At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to develop high-performance software for F1 racing technology.
- Company: Join the legendary Atlassian Williams F1 Team, a leader in motorsport innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous holidays, gym access, and vibrant team events.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving engineering boundaries in motorsport.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment at the forefront of technology.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software development with strong skills in C++, Rust, and Python.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
For almost 50 years, Atlassian Williams F1 Team has been at the forefront of one of the fastest sports on the planet, being one of the top three most successful teams in history competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The British squad boasts 16 F1 World Championship titles to its name.
Atlassian Williams F1 Team is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to join our Performance Technology group. This is a rare opportunity to lead a team of engineers building bespoke, high-performance software that directly supports our Aerodynamics, Vehicle Dynamics, and Vehicle Performance functions. At Williams, software and data are central to our mission of advancing up the grid, and this role puts you at the heart of both.
You'll lead a team of 3–5 engineers, taking ownership of technical direction, architecture, and delivery across a diverse and sophisticated software estate. From real-time data systems and state-of-the-art simulations to bespoke analysis tools and cloud-native modernisation, the problems you'll solve are genuinely complex and genuinely consequential. You'll remain hands-on, contributing directly to design and code while setting the technical standard for those around you.
Our stack is deliberately broad: desktop applications in C++ and C#, web applications in React/TypeScript, Python-based analysis tools, and backend services in C++, Rust, F#, and C#. We use the right tool for the right job, and we're on an exciting journey adopting cloud-native technologies and modern data platforms.
What you'll be doing:
- Leading the technical direction of your team: making architectural decisions, choosing frameworks and patterns, and setting quality standards through code review and hands-on contribution.
- Mentoring and developing your engineers through coaching, knowledge sharing, and regular feedback.
- Managing technical dependencies and risks across concurrent projects, balancing feature delivery against technical debt.
- Acting as the bridge between engineering and the performance functions you support, translating their problems into deliverable software.
- Contributing to technology strategy across Performance Technology and the wider software group.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of software development experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead engineering role.
- Comfort working across the full stack, including performance-critical low-level code in C++ or Rust, as well as Python for data analysis and exploratory workflows.
- Strong architectural knowledge across distributed systems, real-time streaming technologies (Kafka, WebSockets), and data persistence strategies spanning relational, document, and time-series stores.
- Familiarity with or genuine curiosity around functional programming, including languages such as F#.
- A proven track record designing and delivering scalable, maintainable systems with end-to-end technical ownership.
- A pragmatic, outcome-driven approach with a strong desire to engage directly with users and stakeholders.
- Experience with modern DevOps practices including CI/CD, containerisation, and infrastructure-as-code.
Nice to have:
- A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related discipline.
- Experience in motorsport, aerospace, engineering, or other domains where software performance has direct physical-world consequences.
We fuel our team with a competitive benefits package, including generous holidays, vibrant staff events, a subsidised onsite restaurant, and a range of car schemes. Stay energised with 24/7 access to our gym and free fitness classes like outdoor boot camps, Pilates, and Yoga. With free parking and sprawling green spaces, you’ve got the perfect space to recharge and refocus.
Join a fast-paced, future-thinking team that’s driving innovation and pushing past engineering boundaries. Atlassian Williams F1 Racing Team is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are happy to discuss reasonable job adjustments.
Lead Software Engineer in Retford employer: Williams Racing
At Williams Racing, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions a dynamic and inclusive work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and opportunities for strategic influence within the organisation, all set against the thrilling backdrop of motorsport. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of our operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Retford
✨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 Williams Racing 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 Williams Racing.
✨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 Williams Racing.
✨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 Williams Racing 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 Retford
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 Williams Racing.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Williams Racing 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 Williams Racing
✨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 Williams Racing 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.
