Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software Engineer

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Cadence

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and develop innovative software for leading industries like automotive and aerospace.
  • Company: Join Cadence, a leader in electronic design with over 30 years of expertise.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical plans, and generous holiday allowance.
  • Other info: Collaborative team environment with hybrid working options and excellent career growth.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of engineering software and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Computer Science or related field with 4-7 years of experience.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Cadence is a pivotal leader in electronic design, building upon more than 30 years of computational software expertise.

The company applies its underlying Intelligent System Design strategy to deliver software, hardware and IP that turn design concepts into reality.

Cadence customers are the world’s most innovative companies, delivering extraordinary electronic products from chips to boards to systems for the most dynamic market applications including consumer, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace industrial and health.

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

  • Job Title
  • Lead Software Engineer
  • Location
  • Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • Reports to
  • Sr Software Engineering Manager
  • Job Overview

Are you ready to shape the future of engineering software used by the world's leading automotive, aerospace, motorsport, electric vehicle, and renewable energy companies?

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to join our Nottingham-based product development team, where you will design and deliver next-generation desktop and cloud applications and engineering workflows.

In this role, you will develop and evolve complex applications that enable engineers to design, simulate, and analyse advanced electro‑mechanical systems.

Working across the full software lifecycle, from requirements and architecture through to implementation, testing, and deployment - you will drive engineering excellence and help shape the technical direction of our products.

  • Job Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and maintain high‑quality software applications using C#, . NET, and WPF.
  • Implement scalable and maintainable software solutions using object‑oriented design principles, asynchronous programming patterns, and modern software architecture practices with a strong focus on usability, performance, and long‑term extensibility.
  • Leverage AI‑assisted engineering tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), to improve development productivity while maintaining high engineering quality standards.
  • Develop rich user interfaces using XAML, data binding, control templating, dependency properties, and modern UI design patterns.
  • Design end‑to‑end workflows that consider integration points, data flow, reliability, and failure modes across multiple systems and products.
  • Lead the delivery of complex features from initial concept through implementation, testing, release, and post‑release support.
  • Drive engineering best practices through code reviews, technical mentoring, design discussions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Optimize application performance, responsiveness, memory utilization, and scalability.
  • Collaborate closely with product managers, UX designers, software engineers, QA engineers, and domain experts to deliver customer‑focused solutions.
  • Contribute to architectural decisions, technical roadmaps, and long‑term platform strategy.
  • Job Qualifications
  • A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Typically, candidates will bring 4–7 years of relevant software development experience, with strong evidence of technical growth and delivery.

  • Deep understanding of WPF, including XAML, data binding, dependency properties, control templating, styles, and MVVM patterns.
  • Strong knowledge of asynchronous programming using async/await and task‑based design patterns.
  • Experience working with LINQ, generics, delegates, events, collections, and modern C# language features.
  • Practical experience using AI‑assisted development tools such as Git Hub Copilot, Claude, or similar technologies.
  • Strong understanding of software performance, memory management, debugging, and troubleshooting techniques.
  • Experience designing and delivering complex software features from concept to production.
  • Ability to evaluate technical trade‑offs and make sound architecture and design decisions.

Skills

  • Additional Skills/Preferences
  • Experience developing AI‑enabled software solutions, including integration of REST APIs, Python‑based automation, Model Context Protocol (MCP), agent frameworks, and structured tools that expose product capabilities to AI assistants and autonomous agents.
  • Experience developing engineering, simulation, CAD, CAE, EDA, scientific, or other technical software applications.
  • Familiarity with mathematical concepts such as linear algebra, complex numbers, and numerical techniques commonly used in scientific and engineering software applications.
  • Knowledge of cloud‑connected desktop applications and hybrid desktop/cloud architectures.
  • Experience with automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and modern Dev Ops practices.
  • Knowledge of software architecture patterns, design patterns, and large‑scale application modernization initiatives.
  • Additional Information

This role is based in our Nottingham office, with a hybrid working arrangement of at least 3 days per week on‑site.

You will join a collaborative, cross‑functional product development team and work closely with product managers, UX designers, QA engineers, and domain experts.

The team uses modern tooling including Git Hub, Azure Dev Ops, and AI‑assisted development environments.

  • Check What We Can Offer You
  • Competitive salary
  • 25 days holiday per year
  • Private Medical and Dental plans, Income Protection and Life Insurance
  • Group Personal Pension Plan
  • Cycle to work scheme and gym subsidy
  • 5 days paid time to volunteer to give back to our communities
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • The opportunity to work for a Great Place to Work & Fortune 100 organization

Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity and employment equity throughout all levels of the organization.

We strive to attract a qualified and diverse candidate pool and encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.

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Lead Software Engineer employer: Cadence

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Cadence

Contact Details:

Cadence Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Cadence or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Cadence.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Cadence.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Cadence that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer

C#
.NET
WPF
XAML
Asynchronous Programming
Object-Oriented Design
AI-Assisted Development Tools

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Cadence.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Cadence and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Cadence

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Cadence uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.