Software Engineering Manager in Cambourne

A spin-out of the Cambridge University, Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) is a fabless semiconductor company that develops a range of energy-efficient GaN-based power devices to make greener electronics possible. The global power semiconductor market is expected to exceed $50BN.

In addition to the multi-million seed fund and Series A and now B private investments, CGD has so far successfully secured four projects funded by iUK, BEIS and EU (Penta). The technical and commercial expertise of the CGD team combined with an extensive track record in the power electronics market has been fundamental in early market traction of our proprietary technology.

The environmental need for solutions to resolve the world's most significant challenges (energy consumption and CO2 emissions) inspires us to contribute to society by preserving nature with energy-efficient power solutions. With a mindset on pushing the limits of semiconductor (GaN) properties and an outstanding team of worldwide experts leveraging knowledge, IP, and decades of research, we demonstrate technological advancement by developing green solutions for everyday electronics, respecting our planet's natural resources, and creating a more sustainable future for the generations to come.

We are seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead a small but highly capable team responsible for software development, internal IT services, and DevOps infrastructure. This is a pivotal leadership role within the organisation, shaping the tools, services, and platforms that underpin CGD's engineering, research, and operational excellence.

You will collaborate closely with teams across the business—including R&D, Operations, and Commercial—to understand their needs, convert them into actionable priorities, and deliver robust solutions that accelerate CGD's mission.

You will be responsible for:

• Managing, mentoring, and developing a multifunctional Software & IT team
• Setting technical direction and leading the development of internal tools, automation, and cloud infrastructure
• Ensuring company-wide IT services are secure, reliable, and fit for purpose
• Driving modern DevOps practices, including CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and cloud operations
• Acting as the primary point of contact for internal technical stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, effective requirement-gathering, and alignment of priorities across the organisation

This role is based at our Cambridge office and offers a broad remit to make a direct and lasting impact on CGD's growth and digital capabilities.

Main Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management
  • Lead, mentor, and expand a small cross-functional team covering software engineering, IT services, and DevOps
  • Define team objectives, allocate work, monitor performance, and support personal development
  • Foster a collaborative and empowered culture aligned with CGD's values
• Stakeholder Engagement & Requirements Management
  • Act as the primary liaison for internal customers throughout the business
  • Gather, analyse, and refine business requirements across R&D, test, operations, supply chain, and commercial teams
  • Translate high-level needs into actionable plans, ensuring clear prioritisation and realistic delivery timelines
  • Communicate technical concepts effectively to a broad spectrum of stakeholders with varying technical familiarity
• Software Engineering & Tooling Development
  • Oversee the development of tools, automation frameworks, APIs, and data pipelines that support CGD's product development and operational workflows
  • Direct and actively participate in the architecture and implementation of software that integrates testing instruments, microcontrollers, and internal platforms
  • Ensure adherence to high-quality software engineering principles, including testing, documentation, CI/CD, and peer review
• IT Services & Security
  • Ensure CGD teams and individuals are equipped with the systems and services required to operate effectively
  • Oversight of CGD's internal IT systems, including networks, servers, cloud services, identity management and access control
  • Oversee vendor relationships and procurement for IT hardware, software, and services
  • Ensure robust cybersecurity processes are in place, including monitoring, patching, identity access management, and policy enforcement
  • Manage 3rd party service provider to maintain high uptime, reliability, and usability of IT systems across the business
• DevOps & Infrastructure
  • Own CGD's cloud infrastructure, automation pipelines, and monitoring systems
  • Implement and refine infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, containerisation, and cloud-native best practices
  • Ensure scalable, secure, and efficient deployment pipelines for internal tools and platforms
  • Drive continuous improvement across DevOps disciplines
  • Supervision of the company wide AI discovery and implementation initiatives

Skills and Experience

Essential (Technical)

• Bachelor's degree or above in an engineering, computer science, or related discipline
• Strong experience in software development, including Python and modern web technologies
• Proficient with software design patterns, version control (Git), and software development best practices
• Demonstrable experience in DevOps, cloud architectures (e.g., AWS), and infrastructure-as-code
• Solid understanding of IT operations, networks, systems administration, and cybersecurity principles
• Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with relational and non-relational databases
• Experience managing or developing microcontroller firmware, test automation, or instrument control is a plus

Essential (Leadership & Non-Technical)

• Proven experience leading software, DevOps, or IT teams
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with colleagues across technical and non-technical backgrounds
• Ability to gather, analyse, and clarify requirements across varied stakeholders and translate them into clear priorities
• Effective at managing expectations, negotiating priorities, and ensuring alignment across teams
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple initiatives in parallel
• A proactive, self-driven approach with a willingness to take ownership and solve novel problems
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken

Desirable

• Experience with instrument automation frameworks (e.g., PyVISA)
• Knowledge of communication protocols such as Modbus, TCP/IP, CAN
• Experience with serverless architectures or Svelte/SvelteKit
• Background in power electronics or basic circuit design
• Experience scaling IT processes or establishing IT governance in a growing company

Excellent salary, share options scheme available (so you own a piece of the company), pension scheme (6% Company contribution), life assurance (3x Salary), Medicash cash plan, flexible working options (both location and times), annual leave allowance of 33 days.