Software Team Lead

Based in Bristol
-4 to 5 days on site

Salary Circa £65,000 + bonus, overtime, pension

You’re the embedded software engineer the rest of the team already turns to.

You know your way around C and C++, real-time operating systems and target hardware. You’ve probably reviewed more designs than you’ve been credited for. And you’re ready to lead the team, not just the code.

Here’s a chance to do it on a brand new product.

You’ll lead a small to medium team of embedded software engineers building the software for a new naval weapon system, from requirements right through to deployment. Before anything gets implemented, you’ll make sure the software architecture and design stand up on safety, security and reliability. Then you’ll guide the team to build it properly.

This is a hands-on team lead role. You’ll still write and test embedded C/C++ yourself, on host and on target, and you’ll spend plenty of time with systems, hardware and other engineering disciplines when the problem stretches beyond software.

• Lead and mentor a team of embedded software engineers, setting the technical direction day to day
• Review the software architecture and design for safety, security and reliability before full implementation
• Develop and test embedded software to requirements and ICDs, on host and target hardware
• Plan the work with the software project lead, breaking it down, assigning tasks and keeping delivery on track
• Spot technical risk and technical debt early, and raise it clearly
• Keep the team’s coding standards, quality processes and best practice sharp, and improve them where the data says you should
• Represent software in sub-system and cross-discipline technical discussions

• Solid experience developing embedded software in C and/or C++
• Working knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS)
• Experience developing and testing software to requirements and interface specifications (ICDs) on target hardware
• Strong design and analysis skills, including reviewing and writing design documentation
• Confident communicating with engineers, subject matter experts and senior stakeholders
• Sole or dual British nationality

• Experience leading or mentoring software engineers, formally or informally
• Low-level software, device driver development or ARM assembler
• FreeRTOS
• UML or model-driven development, ideally IBM Rhapsody
• IBM Engineering Work Management / Rational Team Concert, Jira or similar
• Safety-critical, defence or other regulated‑sector software

You don’t need “Team Lead” on your CV already. If you’re a senior embedded software engineer who’s been informally leading for a while, this role is built as a route into technical leadership, with a structured technical career path beyond it.

• Circa £65,000 depending on experience
• Company bonus of up to £2,500
• Pension with combined contributions of up to 14%
• Paid overtime available
• Up to 15 additional days of flexi leave
• Healthcare cash plan covering dental, optical and more

Because of the nature of the work, expect to be on site in Bristol 4 to 5 days a week. You’ll need sole or dual British nationality due to security clearance requirements