Job Description:

This is an opportunity to take a pivotal technical leadership role within a highly respected engineering organisation working at the forefront of secure and advanced systems.
If you're someone who enjoys solving complex problems, influencing technical direction, and developing high-performing teams, this role offers the chance to make a genuine impact on critical, real-world programmes.
You'll be joining an environment where technical excellence is valued, innovation is encouraged, and your expertise will directly shape how systems are designed and delivered.

Why This Role Stands Out

• High-impact work on complex, mission-critical systems
• Real technical ownership across multiple programmes
• Influence and autonomy to shape architecture, standards, and tools
• Strong team culture focused on collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Flexible working hours (including early Friday finishes) despite being fully onsite
• A business that genuinely invests in engineering capability and continuous improvement

The Role
As a Lead / Chief Software Architect, you'll sit at the heart of engineering delivery, providing technical leadership, architectural direction, and mentoring across a portfolio of projects.
You'll:

• Define and guide software architecture and design decisions
• Provide technical leadership across multiple concurrent projects
• Lead, mentor, and support a team of talented software engineers
• Partner closely with systems, hardware, and firmware teams
• Champion best practice engineering standards, tools, and processes
• Drive modular design, reuse, and long-term maintainability
• Support early-stage project planning, estimation, and proposals
• Play a key role in building a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement

What You'll Bring
Technical Strength

• Strong experience with C/C++ or Rust, ideally in embedded or systems environments
• Experience working across Linux and/or Windows platforms
• Good understanding of modern engineering practices (CI/CD, DevOps, automated testing)
• Ideally, exposure to real-time or embedded systems (RTOS)

Architecture & Design

• Proven ability to define and deliver robust, scalable architectures
• Experience with UML / SysML modelling and structured design approaches
• Passion for clean design, modularity, and code reuse

Leadership & Impact

• Experience leading or mentoring engineers in a technical capacity
• Comfortable influencing across teams and projects
• A track record of delivering complex solutions to high standards

Nice to Have

• Experience within secure, regulated, or high-integrity environments
• Knowledge of secure software or cryptographic systems
• Familiarity with standards such as MISRA or similar

Requirements

• Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field
• Must be eligible for UK high-level security clearance (British citizenship required)

What's On Offer

• £85,000 - £95,000 salary
• Annual bonus scheme
• Private medical cover
• Strong pension contribution
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays (option to buy more)
• Life assurance
• Flexible benefits package
• Flexible working hours with a strong focus on work-life balance

The Environment
This is a fully onsite role in Berkshire, due to the secure nature of the work conducted. However, the organisation recognises the importance of flexibility, offering adjustable start/finish times and a supportive approach to balancing work and life commitments.

Apply Now
If you're ready to step into a role where your technical leadership will be valued, your ideas will shape outcomes, and your work will genuinely matter, apply today