At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of cutting-edge AI systems for defence and health.
- Company: Innovative UK tech company focused on mission-critical applications.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with a mission-driven culture and excellent career prospects.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: Strong Python skills and experience in backend development and AI/ML systems.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Our client, an innovative UK technology company is building a next-generation AI platform for defence and health applications. Their systems operate in highly regulated, mission-critical environments where reliability, security, and performance truly matter.
We’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer to take technical ownership of key platform components, guide architectural decisions, and mentor engineers as we scale. This is a hands-on leadership role — you’ll be writing code, shaping systems, and directly influencing the future of the platform. This is a genuine ground-floor opportunity to shape both the technology and the engineering culture within a growing, mission-driven business.
What You’ll Be Working On
- Leading the design, development, and evolution of intelligent, distributed systems
- Architecting and building AI-driven capabilities, including:
- Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
- AI agents and orchestration workflows
- Designing and maintaining backend services and APIs (primarily Python, FastAPI / Flask)
- Building and scaling data pipelines and search systems using:
- ElasticSearch, Weaviate, Pinecone, and other vector databases
- Engineering secure, containerised architectures using Docker and Kubernetes
- Ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and performance for mission-critical workloads
- Providing technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers
- Contributing to technical strategy, tooling choices, and engineering best practices
What We’re Looking For
- Active SC clearance and British nationality (no dual nationality)
- Degree in Computer Science, AI, or a related field — or equivalent industry experience
- Strong background in Python or similar languages
- Significant experience with backend development, microservices, and distributed systems
- Hands-on experience with AI/ML systems, including LLMs, RAG, or vector databases
- Solid understanding of containerisation and orchestration (Docker / Kubernetes)
- Experience delivering secure, on-premise or regulated systems
- Proven ability to lead technically, mentor others, and take ownership of complex problems
- Experience in defence, government, healthcare, or other regulated domains
- Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code
- Exposure to data engineering, ETL pipelines, or high-volume data processing
- Experience working in SME or start-up environments, comfortable wearing multiple hats
- Hybrid working – 1 day per week onsite in either Winchester/Basingstoke
Lead Software Engineer in Winchester employer: iDPP
Join an innovative UK technology company at the forefront of AI development for defence and health applications, where your contributions will directly shape the future of mission-critical systems. With a strong emphasis on mentorship and technical leadership, you'll thrive in a collaborative work culture that values reliability, security, and performance. Enjoy the unique opportunity to work in a hybrid environment, balancing remote flexibility with essential in-person collaboration in Winchester or Basingstoke, all while being part of a mission-driven team dedicated to impactful technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Winchester
✨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 iDPP 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 iDPP.
✨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 iDPP.
✨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 iDPP 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 in Winchester
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 iDPP.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at iDPP 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 iDPP
✨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 iDPP 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.
