Director of Software Engineering

ARM; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

ARM, Cambridge-based, seeks a Director of Software Engineering to lead a broad organisation spanning Systems Software, Userspace, and System Modelling tools. The role sits at the intersection of low-level software and large-scale delivery, shaping software for performance, efficiency, and scalability on Arm-based platforms.

You will collaborate across Arm and open-source ecosystems, with a clear path toward Senior Director level.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large distributed software engineering teams.
• Strong systems software background with hands-on kernel/driver experience.
• Ability to connect low-level implementation to system-level performance and scalability outcomes.
• Track record delivering improvements in performance/power/system behaviour in production.
• Experience building high-performing teams and growing senior technical leaders.
• Credibility to engage with engineers across the stack and influence direction.
• Nice to have: media/graphics/multimedia subsystem experience.
• Nice to have: Android or userspace performance exposure.
• Nice to have: familiarity with Arm architecture or hardware/software co-design.
• Nice to have: experience working with open-source communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a globally distributed organisation of 60+ engineers.
• Align priorities across kernel, drivers, and userspace teams.
• Collaborate with architecture, hardware, and product groups to deliver co-optimised solutions.
• Set clear roadmaps balancing near-term delivery with long-term strategy.
• Build leadership capability and support growth of senior engineers.
• Influence across a complex organisation to unite teams around shared goals.

Skills

Team leadership

Systems software

Kernel/driver experience

Performance optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Open-source engagement

People development

Arm architecture familiarity

Tools

Linux kernel

Device drivers

ARM ecosystem

Performance profiling tools

Job description

Salary: £45,000 - 80,000 per year

Requirements:

• We are looking for someone with experience leading large, distributed software engineering teams of 60+ engineers.
• We need a strong systems software background with hands‑on experience in one or more of the following: Linux kernel development, device driver development, or power and performance engineering.
• We are looking for someone who can connect low-level implementation across kernel, drivers, and firmware to system-level performance, efficiency, and scalability outcomes.
• We need a track record of delivering measurable improvements in performance, power, or system behaviour in production environments.
• We want someone with experience developing high‑performing teams and growing senior technical leaders.
• We are looking for someone with the credibility to engage deeply with engineers across the stack and influence technical direction.
• Nice to have: media, graphics, or multimedia subsystem experience.
• Nice to have: Android or userspace performance exposure.
• Nice to have: familiarity with Arm architecture or hardware/software co‑design.
• Nice to have: experience working with open‑source communities.

Responsibilities:

• We will have you lead and develop a globally distributed organisation of 60+ engineers.
• We will have you align priorities across kernel, drivers, and userspace teams.
• We will have you collaborate with architecture, hardware, and product groups to deliver co‑optimised solutions.
• We will have you set clear roadmaps that balance near‑term delivery with long‑term strategy.
• We will have you build strong leadership capability and support the growth of senior engineers.
• We will have you influence across a complex organisation to bring teams together around shared goals.

Technologies:

• ARM
• Android
• Firmware
• Hardware
• Support
• Linux

More:

We are Arm and we are looking for a Director of Software Engineering to help lead a broad organisation spanning Systems Software, Userspace, and System Modelling tools. This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of low-level systems software and large-scale engineering delivery, with responsibility for shaping software that influences the performance, efficiency, and scalability of Arm-based platforms. You will work across Arm and the wider open-source ecosystem, with a clear progression path toward Senior Director level. This is a hybrid role with 2 days per week in our Cambridge office. We support hybrid working that balances high performance and personal wellbeing, and we are committed to equal opportunities and to building extraordinary teams.