Role Overview
An opportunity has opened for a Software Project Lead to take end‑to‑end ownership of embedded software delivery for complex, safety‑and‑mission‑critical systems. The organisation is hiring into two locations – Bristol and Stevenage – with each site leading distinct programmes but sharing the same core leadership and low‑level software skillset.
You will lead multi‑disciplinary software teams delivering real‑time, on‑board software for next‑generation platform and weapon systems, ensuring outcomes are on time, on cost, and to exacting quality standards. The role is suited to a hands‑on software leader who enjoys balancing technical oversight, stakeholder management, and rigorous project control in a highly regulated engineering environment.
About the Organisation
The employer is a market‑leading defence technology business operating across the UK and Europe, recognised for advanced complex weapons and mission‑critical systems. They operate at scale, partnering with government and industry to deliver strategically important capability across land, sea, air, and joint domains.
Engineering and technology sit at the core of the business model, and software is treated as a primary enabler rather than a support function. Teams are collaborative, close‑knit and cross‑functional, bringing together systems, software, electronics, and test to deliver across the full product lifecycle.
Responsibilities
* Lead a small to medium‑sized embedded software team (typically 5–10 engineers) delivering on‑board software for complex weapon or platform subsystems.
* Own software work‑package delivery – planning, estimating, tracking, and reporting against cost, schedule and quality baselines.
* Provide technical direction and oversight across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, architecture input, design, implementation, integration, and verification.
* Ensure effective configuration management, change control, and adherence to agreed development processes and standards.
* Communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels, reporting progress, blockers, and risks, and driving resolution across engineering, project management and customers.
* Support bid and planning activity by producing credible estimates, identifying assumptions and dependencies, and shaping delivery approaches for new work.
* Contribute to continuous improvement in ways of working, tooling, and team capability, particularly around low‑level, real‑time and safety‑related software.
Candidate Profile
* Proven experience leading or technically managing embedded software teams, ideally on real‑time, safety‑or mission‑critical systems.
* Strong project management skills, with demonstrable experience of planning, tracking, and controlling software delivery against agreed milestones and budgets.
* Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle, including configuration management tools, change control, and quality assurance in a regulated environment.
* Ability to elicit and interpret requirements, understand solution options, and produce accurate, defensible estimates.
* Experience with UML‑based design and strong proficiency in at least one of C, C++ or Ada for embedded systems.
* Confident communicator, able to work credibly with engineers, project leaders and senior stakeholders, and to provide clear written and verbal reporting.
The role offers a competitive salary in the region of £65,000–£72,000 depending on experience and location, plus a 21% bonus and benefits package of:
* Company bonus scheme of up to 21% of base salary, subject to performance.
* Pension with total contributions (employer and employee) of up to around 14%.
* Dynamic hybrid working; roles are site‑based in Bristol or Stevenage with c.4–5 days per week on‑site due to classification and lab integration needs.
* Enhanced parental leave, including up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, plus enhancements for paternity, neonatal leave and fertility treatment.
* Strong on‑site facilities including subsidised meals, free parking and wider employee wellbeing benefits.
* Healthcare cash plan with the ability to claim back on routine healthcare costs such as optical, dental, and wellbeing therapies.
How to Apply
If you are an experienced or aspiring software leader with a background in embedded, low‑level or real‑time software, and you are interested in high‑impact defence programmes, this role will offer genuine scope to shape both product and team outcomes. To explore this opportunity please apply with an up‑to‑date CV and a brief outline of your relevant leadership and embedded software experience.
All applications will be treated in strict confidence and discussed with you before any details are shared with the hiring organisation.
#J-18808-Ljbffr