At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic software team, tackling complex technical challenges and driving innovative solutions.
- Company: Join Leidos, a forward-thinking tech company committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private medical insurance, and 33 days of annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical national infrastructure while developing your technical leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Extensive software engineering experience, particularly in Java, with strong leadership abilities.
The predicted salary is between 61500 - 78800 € per year.
Location: Farnborough, with flexibility to work from home dependent on business demands
Salary: £61,500 - £78,800
The Role
The Lead Software Engineer will play a critical role in both the sustainment of the current environment and the delivery of new capabilities. The selected individual will develop solutions to complex technical issues and problems that impact multiple areas or disciplines; regularly employ ingenuity and creativity to develop new technical solutions and systems to achieve functional objectives. This is a technical leadership role. The individual will drive delivery, lead technical decision‑making, collaborate with engineers and architects, and act as the visible technical representative of the software team.
What will I be doing?
- Provide technical leadership for the software team collaborating with architects to contribute to and understand solution approach, guiding implementation, and making sound engineering decisions that balance delivery, quality, and operational risk.
- Provide technical leadership across delivery and engineering practices, ensuring agreed standards and processes are applied consistently throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop, debug, test, document, and deploy software enhancements aligned with the Software Development Strategy.
- Lead delivery, covering Java-based backend services and APIs that process system business events and workflows, integrating with downstream systems and data services in a secure, highly available environment.
- Drive strong engineering practices across the team.
- Ensure adherence to established code review standards.
- Ensure defined quality gates are consistently met for the project.
- Promote clean, maintainable, well‑documented code.
- Guide system design and development by analysing information needs, system flows, data usage, and work processes, and translating these into practical implementation approaches.
- Own technical oversight for ensuring the build and deployment pipeline is continuously validated and fit for purpose for the project, working with engineers and supporting roles to ensure defined CI/CD processes, quality gates, and security scanning requirements are consistently met.
- Determine operational feasibility by evaluating requests, requirements, problem definitions, solution options, and their impact on operational systems.
- Lead engineers and collaborate closely with architects and the test team to ensure new and modified software is fully verified prior to promotion.
- Breakdown the design into workable, and reportable, tasks for developers to incrementally deliver against in a Scrum/Agile fashion.
- Oversee and enable test automation within the scope of the project: Ensure engineers deliver unit and integration tests as a standard part of development.
- Support and coordinate automation activities, with the test team retaining ownership of overall outcomes.
- Support and continuously improve Agile delivery practices, including planning, estimation, backlog refinement, and delivery cadence.
- Ensure effective use of development tooling and processes, including CI/CD pipelines and integrated security scanning.
- Mentor and support other engineers, helping to raise technical capability and consistency across the team.
- Effectively communicate with internal stakeholders, influencing technical decisions through clear, concise, and well‑reasoned input.
What essential skills does Leidos need from me?
- Extensive software engineering experience, including substantial hands‑on delivery using Java (Java 8 and modern Java versions such as 17 and 21).
- API design and implementation.
- Proven experience operating as a technical leader, including leading technical decision‑making, guiding and mentoring engineers, and representing the software team in customer and stakeholder engagements.
- Strong understanding of design patterns and a solid, structured approach to software development.
- Strong understanding of git/Bitbucket branching strategies on large projects with moderately sized teams contributing.
- Familiarity with Relational Databases (PostgreSQL), SQL and JDBC.
- Demonstrated experience writing unit and integration tests as a normal part of delivery.
- Familiarity with Agile software development processes and working within iterative delivery models.
- Familiarity with the Atlassian tool suite (e.g. Jira, Bitbucket, Bamboo), or equivalent tooling, with a solid understanding of CI/CD concepts, workflows, and practices.
- Experience ensuring compliance with code review standards, quality gates, CI/CD pipelines, and security scanning processes.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Familiarity with integration and architectural patterns (e.g. adapters, orchestration patterns such as saga).
- Experience with SOAP, REST webservices.
- Experience with IBM Web Application Server or JBoss.
- Familiarity with Unix, Linux or other variants.
- Perl, Python, and/or bash scripting experience.
- Experience with C, C++.
- Strong performance debugging skills.
- Experience contributing to or supporting test automation initiatives (UI and/or API).
Clearance Requirements
The successful applicant will be required to hold and maintain UK Security Clearance and additional programme clearances.
Benefits
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Private Medical Insurance
- 33 days Annual Leave (including public and privilege holidays)
- Access to Flexible benefits (including life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, annual buy and sell holidays and a cycle to work scheme)
- Flexi-Time Working
Commitment to Diversity
We welcome applications from every part of the community and are committed to a truly diverse and inclusive culture. We foster a sense of belonging, welcoming all perspectives and contributions, and providing equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages please let us know, and we will respond in a way that best fits your needs.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
Lead Software Engineer employer: Leidos
Leidos is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Farnborough with the flexibility to work from home. Employees benefit from a comprehensive package that includes a contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, and generous annual leave, all while being part of a diverse and inclusive culture that prioritises personal and professional growth. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will have the opportunity to lead technical initiatives on critical national infrastructure projects, making a meaningful impact while collaborating with talented professionals in a supportive atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their projects, and be ready to discuss how your skills align with their needs. Practise common technical questions and scenarios related to software engineering to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your work! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those that highlight your leadership and technical skills. This is your chance to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and creativity in action.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Leidos. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java, API design, and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your experience in Agile environments and technical leadership.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, be sure to showcase your technical skills clearly. Mention specific projects where you've used Java, worked with CI/CD pipelines, or led a team. We love seeing concrete examples of your work!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to track your application status directly. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leidos
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Java skills, especially versions 8, 17, and 21. Be ready to discuss API design and implementation in detail, as well as your experience with relational databases like PostgreSQL. The more you can demonstrate your technical expertise, the better!
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll need to show that you can guide and mentor other engineers. Prepare examples of how you've led technical decision-making in the past and how you've influenced teams. This is your chance to shine as a technical leader!
✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile Practices
Since this role involves working within Agile delivery models, be prepared to discuss your experience with Scrum and how you've contributed to planning, estimation, and backlog refinement. Highlight any specific tools you've used, like Jira or Bitbucket, to manage your projects.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think about complex technical issues you've encountered and how you approached them. Be ready to explain your thought process and the solutions you implemented, showcasing your ingenuity and creativity.
