At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex software projects in maritime and defence sectors, bridging technical and customer needs.
- Company: KDC Projects, a leader in innovative software solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to work on impactful projects.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in defence technology while leading dynamic teams.
- Qualifications: Proven software engineering leadership and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
- Description
- Lead Software Engineer
KDC Projects is seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer to lead the delivery of complex software work packages within the maritime and defence sectors.
This role combines deep technical software expertise with engineering leadership, stakeholder engagement, and work package ownership.
The successful candidate will be equally comfortable working within mature legacy architectures, defining technical approaches, leading multidisciplinary teams, engaging with customer SMEs and taking responsibility for delivering agreed outcomes.
This is not a pure software development role.
We are looking for an individual who can bridge the gap between customer requirements, systems engineering, software delivery and verification activities whilst acting as the technical lead for a defined work package.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical Leadership
- Lead the technical delivery of software work packages from requirements through to acceptance.
- Understand and navigate large, complex, and legacy software architectures.
- Provide technical leadership to software engineers and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Support architectural decision making, design reviews and technical governance activities.
- Identify technical risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Work Package Leadership
- Own scope, delivery, quality and technical performance of assigned work packages.
- Develop work package plans, estimates and delivery strategies.
- Manage technical dependencies, assumptions and risks.
- Act as the primary technical interface between KDC and customer stakeholders.
- Support development of Statements of Work, acceptance criteria and delivery plans.
- Ensure delivery activities are aligned to customer priorities and programme objectives.
Requirements & Systems Engineering
- Support requirements capture, decomposition and traceability activities.
- Translate customer needs into deliverables
- Work closely with customer SMEs to understand operational and technical requirements.
- Software Engineering
- Design, develop and review software solutions within complex engineering environments.
- Support software integration, configuration management and release activities.
- Review software quality, coding standards and technical documentation.
- Mentor and support junior and mid-level software engineers.
- Verification & Validation
- Support development of verification strategies and acceptance approaches.
- Ensure software deliverables are tested and traceable back to the requirements.
- Work closely with internal and external V&V teams to support successful acceptance and certification activities.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Software Engineering
- Significant experience in software engineering leadership roles.
• Strong development background using
- C#
- . NET Framework / . NET
- Windows-based applications
- Experience working within large-scale, mature or legacy software architectures.
- Strong understanding of software lifecycle management.
- Technical Leadership
- Proven experience leading technical teams and engineering work packages.
- Ability to provide direction whilst remaining hands-on when required.
- Experience managing technical delivery against customer requirements.
- Systems Thinking
- Strong understanding of systems engineering principles.
- Experience working with requirements, interfaces and architecture documentation.
- Ability to understand complex multidisciplinary systems.
- Stakeholder Management
- Experience working directly with customers, SMEs and programme stakeholders.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Comfortable operating in technically challenging and politically complex environments.
Desirable Experience
- Maritime, naval or defence domain experience.
- Navigation, radar, command systems or mission systems experience.
- Experience supporting regulated or certified products.
- Verification & Validation experience.
- Experience working with NATO standards, defence standards or safety-critical systems.
- Experience operating within secure environments.
- Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will
- Be highly credible with both engineers and customers.
- Holder of or eligible for full UK Security Clearance
- Demonstrate strong ownership and accountability.
- Be capable of operating with minimal supervision.
- Have the confidence to challenge assumptions whilst remaining collaborative.
- Be pragmatic, delivery focused and solutions orientated.
- Be comfortable operating within ambiguity and helping define the path forward.
- Based in Southeast England
Lead Software Engineer employer: KDC Group Services
As a leading employer in the aerospace sector, we offer a dynamic and collaborative work environment where Systems Engineers can thrive. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous training opportunities and hands-on experience with cutting-edge refuelling technologies. Located at the forefront of aerospace innovation, we provide a unique chance to contribute to significant projects while enjoying a supportive culture that values teamwork and technical excellence.
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 KDC Group Services 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 KDC Group Services.
✨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 KDC Group Services.
✨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 KDC Group Services 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
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 KDC Group Services.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at KDC Group Services 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 KDC Group Services
✨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 KDC Group Services 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.
