Software Team Leader in Rochester

Location: Rochester, Onsite

Salary: Up to £65,000 dependent on experience

Who we are: Join BAE Systems and you'll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you'll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You'll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future for all of us.

Job Description: You will lead software engineering delivery for complex, safety‐critical defence systems, owning outcomes from planning through to integration and acceptance. This role combines hands‐on technical leadership with team leadership, ensuring high‐quality software is delivered predictably against project milestones. You will shape how work is delivered, grow and support engineers, and provide clear technical oversight across your work packages. Working closely with project management, systems engineering and adjacent teams, you will influence priorities, manage dependencies, and help drive successful delivery of mission‐critical capability.

Core duties:

• Provide technical and people leadership for software engineering teams delivering safety‐critical systems within the Rochester business.
• Own the end‐to‐end planning and delivery of software work packages, with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, risks, and technical dependencies, proactively managing trade‐offs to meet programme objectives.
• Build, sustain and evolve software teams with the right blend of skills and experience, ensuring capability and capacity align with current delivery needs and future programme demands.
• Maintain clear delivery oversight, including progress tracking and financial assurance, to support accurate and predictable reporting.
• Collaborate closely with systems, project and discipline leads to align technical delivery with programme objectives.

Essential Skills:

• Proven experience leading and developing software engineering teams delivering complex or safety‐critical systems.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, assign and deliver work packages while balancing technical quality, schedule and cost.
• Practical experience across multiple stages of the software lifecycle, such as requirements, design, implementation, integration and verification.
• Working knowledge of relevant engineering tools (e.g. DOORS, Siemens Polarion, CAMEO) and programming in C/C++ and/or Assembler, with scripting in Python.
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline such as Software Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace, Physics or Mathematics.

The Software Team: You will join a collaborative software engineering team delivering safety‐critical defence systems. The team works closely with systems and project functions to provide technical oversight and predictable delivery. You will be supported through structured learning and development, with opportunities to broaden your experience across programmes and progress into senior technical or leadership roles.

Why BAE Systems? Here you'll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You'll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what's most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive: We're committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 28th July 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.