Head of Software Engineering (EW)

Overview

In this role you lead the EW software community across Luton, Lincoln, and Bristol to deliver capable software solutions that protect lives and enhance mission effectiveness. You drive end-to-end software delivery, strategy, and governance, shaping roadmaps with product architects and stakeholders. You will develop talent pipelines, foster technical excellence, and oversee risk, budget, and partner management. This is a chance to guide a cross-site software agenda within a global aerospace and defence leader.

Pay / Benefits

• time to recharge: up to 12 flexi-days per year
• pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution
• mental health support and wellbeing resources
• access to 4,000+ online courses (Coursera & LinkedIn Learning)
• referral bonus
• flexible benefits up to 500 for private healthcare, dental, etc.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely software capability delivery and manage recruitment and training to build a full career-path pipeline
• Improve software project delivery through better estimation, monitoring, and timely interventions
• Own the Software Development Process, Toolchain, and Technology strategy and deploy them across the business
• Collaborate with business sector stakeholders, Engineering Leadership and Product Architects to develop product and technology roadmaps
• Provide strategic technical leadership and enforce consistent excellence across the EW portfolio
• Act as the process authority for the sector and drive governance, standards, and compliance
• Collaborate with other Engineering areas to create an integrated process and toolchain
• Acquire and share knowledge via industry bodies, partnerships, conferences, benchmarking and recruitment
• Identify and manage long-term technology and resource partners
• Oversee cost centre management, budget control and strategic planning
• Support risk, security and compliance requirements relevant to the sector

Key requirements

• Strong leadership capabilities to drive technical excellence and team performance
• Strategic mindset with clear decision-making and ability to inspire software teams
• Strong software design background to align with product architects on coherent design and strategy
• Experience in Agile Transformation, Component Architectures, Model Driven Engineering, Digital Transformation, Embedded Software, Avionics Software
• Proven track record in fostering accountability and collaboration while delivering high-impact solutions and managing stakeholder expectations
• Experience with industry standards such as RTCA/DO-178C, IEC61508 or ISO26262
• Security clearance with BPSS and potential NSV/SC/DV requirements
• Willingness to learn and adapt across the EW domain

• leadership
• communication
• decision-making
• Agile Transformation
• Component Architectures
• Model Driven Engineering

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