At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the engineering team to develop and scale our innovative space intelligence platform.
- Company: Join Spaceflux, a pioneering company in optical space intelligence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for travel and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the space industry while leading a talented team.
- Qualifications: Strong full-stack experience and proven leadership in complex software environments.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
Company: Spaceflux Ltd
Reports to: Chief Product Officer
About Spaceflux
Spaceflux delivers sovereign-grade optical space intelligence through a global network of optical and SWIR-enabled sensors and an AI-powered cloud platform. We provide real-time tracking, characterisation, and analytics from LEO to GEO, supporting government and commercial missions with actionable intelligence in seconds. We also deliver tailored sensor system packages, specialist services, and domain intelligence consultancy.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a Head of Software Engineering to own the technical architecture and delivery of the Spaceflux platform. You’ll work directly with the CPO and CTO to translate a demanding product roadmap into well-designed, scalable software. You’ll lead and grow our 10-person engineering team who build and operate it. This is an architecture-led leadership role. You’ll own system design, define technical standards, make hard calls on trade-offs, and unblock your team. You won’t be managing from a distance. The platform is cloud-native, data-intensive, and operationally critical. We process observations from sensors on five continents, run AI/ML pipelines at the edge and in the cloud, and serve government customers who have no tolerance for downtime.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the technical evolution of the Cortex platform over the coming years, working closely with the CPO and CTO on architecture direction and roadmap planning.
- Build a new UK software team for Spaceflux, working alongside our current remote team.
- Own engineering delivery: sprint cadence, quality, velocity, and the relationship between product requirements and technical reality.
- Drive platform stability and scalability as the sensor network expands to 25+ sites and customer demand grows.
- Lead on engineering security practices, particularly in the context of UK Government and defence data handling.
- Work with Ops to improve observability, incident response, and the reliability of a 24/7 operational system.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Strong full-stack background: comfortable with cloud infrastructure.
- Proven experience leading engineering teams shipping production software in complex, data-intensive domains, with strong ownership of system architecture and design.
- Prior experience managing remote or contracted engineering teams.
- Experience in systems where reliability and data integrity genuinely matter: defence, aerospace, finance, or similar.
- Track record of working closely with product and leadership to balance pace with quality.
- Clear communicator who can operate at architecture level and pull request level in the same week.
- Experience with agentic engineering tools and AI-assisted dev workflows.
- Eligible for UK security clearance (SC and UK eyes only). This role involves working on UK Official Sensitive programmes.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience with satellite systems, telescope control, or space domain awareness.
- Familiarity with edge computing and distributed sensor networks.
Other Requirements
- Able to commute to central London approximately twice a week, with occasional additional travel for customer or partner needs.
- Able to travel within the UK and occasionally internationally to collaborate with the wider Spaceflux team, meet customers, and attend technical events.
- Able to maintain access to a reliable broadband connection.
Spaceflux Ltd is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Head of Software Engineering employer: Spaceflux Ltd
At Spaceflux Ltd, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of London. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while you lead a talented engineering team dedicated to delivering cutting-edge space intelligence solutions. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and encourage a diverse and inclusive environment where every voice is valued.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the industry. Attend meetups, tech talks, or even online webinars. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best projects and contributions. Whether it's GitHub repos or case studies, having tangible evidence of your work can really set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research Spaceflux and understand their products and culture. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around cloud infrastructure and data-intensive systems.
✨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 the Spaceflux team. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Head of Software Engineering. Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure and leading engineering teams, as these are key for us at Spaceflux.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for our team. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in data-intensive environments and led teams to success.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Include projects or experiences that showcase your full-stack background and your ability to manage complex systems. We want to see your hands-on experience!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Spaceflux Ltd
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Head of Software Engineering, you'll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of cloud infrastructure and full-stack development. Brush up on the latest technologies and frameworks relevant to Spaceflux's platform, and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role involves leading a team, so it's crucial to convey your leadership approach. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed engineering teams, especially in remote settings. Highlight your ability to balance technical demands with team dynamics.
✨Understand the Business Context
Spaceflux operates in a high-stakes environment, so understanding the implications of software reliability and data integrity is key. Be prepared to discuss how your previous experiences align with the needs of government and defence sectors, and how you can ensure operational stability.
✨Prepare for Technical Discussions
Expect to dive deep into system architecture and design during the interview. Familiarise yourself with common architectural patterns and be ready to discuss trade-offs you've made in past projects. This will show that you can think critically about technical challenges.
