At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical direction and mentor a talented team in software architecture.
- Company: Respected engineering organisation at the forefront of secure systems.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, private medical cover, and strong pension contributions.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on mission-critical systems with technical ownership.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in C/C++ or Rust, and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 95000 £ per year.
This is an opportunity to take a pivotal technical leadership role within a highly respected engineering organisation working at the forefront of secure and advanced systems. If you're someone who enjoys solving complex problems, influencing technical direction, and developing high-performing teams, this role offers the chance to make a genuine impact on critical, real-world programmes. You'll be joining an environment where technical excellence is valued, innovation is encouraged, and your expertise will directly shape how systems are designed and delivered.
Why This Role Stands Out
- High-impact work on complex, mission-critical systems
- Real technical ownership across multiple programmes
- Influence and autonomy to shape architecture, standards, and tools
- Strong team culture focused on collaboration and knowledge sharing
- Flexible working hours (including early Friday finishes) despite being fully onsite
- A business that genuinely invests in engineering capability and continuous improvement
The Role
As a Lead / Chief Software Architect, you'll sit at the heart of engineering delivery, providing technical leadership, architectural direction, and mentoring across a portfolio of projects. You'll:
- Define and guide software architecture and design decisions
- Provide technical leadership across multiple concurrent projects
- Lead, mentor, and support a team of talented software engineers
- Partner closely with systems, hardware, and firmware teams
- Champion best practice engineering standards, tools, and processes
- Drive modular design, reuse, and long-term maintainability
- Support early-stage project planning, estimation, and proposals
- Play a key role in building a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement
What You'll Bring
Technical Strength
- Strong experience with C/C++ or Rust, ideally in embedded or systems environments
- Experience working across Linux and/or Windows platforms
- Good understanding of modern engineering practices (CI/CD, DevOps, automated testing)
- Ideally, exposure to real-time or embedded systems (RTOS)
Architecture & Design
- Proven ability to define and deliver robust, scalable architectures
- Experience with UML / SysML modelling and structured design approaches
- Passion for clean design, modularity, and code reuse
Leadership & Impact
- Experience leading or mentoring engineers in a technical capacity
- Comfortable influencing across teams and projects
- A track record of delivering complex solutions to high standards
Nice to Have
- Experience within secure, regulated, or high-integrity environments
- Knowledge of secure software or cryptographic systems
- Familiarity with standards such as MISRA or similar
Requirements
- Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field
- Must be eligible for UK high-level security clearance (British citizenship required)
What's On Offer
- £85,000 - £95,000 salary
- Annual bonus scheme
- Private medical cover
- Strong pension contribution
- 25 days holiday +
