Director of Software Engineering (Systems Software)

Arm; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 168,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work in Cambridge

Clear progression to Senior Director

Job summary

Arm is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead a broad organisation spanning Systems Software (Kernel, Firmware, Power), Userspace (Performance and Enablement) and System Modelling tools. You’ll guide a distributed team of 60+ engineers within a wider organisation of 300+, shaping software that directly influences performance and scalability of Arm-based platforms.

You’ll build leadership capability, set roadmaps, and collaborate with architecture, hardware and product groups to

Qualifications

• Must have deep experience leading large, distributed software engineering teams.
• Strong systems software background with kernel, drivers, or related areas.
• Proven track record delivering measurable performance and efficiency improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead 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.
• Develop leadership capability and grow senior engineers.
• Influence across the organisation to align teams around shared goals.

Skills

Leadership of large teams

Systems software

Linux kernel

Device drivers

Power & performance

System-level optimisation

Leadership development

Job description

Overview

Arm is looking for a Director of Software Engineering to help lead a broad organisation spanning Systems Software (Kernel, Firmware, Power), Userspace (Performance and Enablement) and System Modelling tools. This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of low-level systems software and large-scale engineering delivery. You’ll guide a distributed team of 60+ engineers (within a wider organisation of 300+), shaping software that directly influences the performance, efficiency, and scalability of Arm-based platforms! You’ll bring together expertise across kernel, drivers, and userspace to deliver meaningful improvements in real-world systems, while collaborating across Arm and the wider open-source ecosystem.

What You’ll Do

• Leading and developing a globally distributed organisation of 60+ engineers
• Aligning priorities across kernel, drivers, and userspace teams
• Collaborating with architecture, hardware, and product groups to deliver co-optimised solutions
• Setting clear roadmaps that balance near-term delivery with long-term strategy
• Building strong leadership capability and supporting the growth of senior engineers
• Influencing across a complex organisation to bring teams together around shared goals

What You Bring

• Experience leading large, distributed software engineering teams (60+ engineers)
• Strong systems software background, with hands-on experience in one or more of the following:
• Linux kernel development
• Device driver development (e.g. media, graphics, or similar subsystems)
• Power and performance engineering, including system-level optimisation
• Ability to connect low-level implementation (kernel, drivers, firmware) to system-level performance, efficiency, and scalability outcomes
• Track record of delivering measurable improvements in performance, power, or system behaviour in production environments
• Experience developing high-performing teams and growing senior technical leaders
• Credibility to engage deeply with engineers across the stack and influence technical direction

Nice to Have

• Media, graphics, or multimedia subsystem experience
• Android or userspace performance exposure
• Familiarity with Arm architecture or hardware/software co-design
• Experience working with open-source communities

Why Join ARM?

This role offers the opportunity to lead across a broad and strategically critical part of Arm’s software ecosystem, influencing everything from low-level kernel behaviour to end-user performance in real-world workloads. You’ll work in an environment that values deep technical expertise, collaborative problem-solving, and bold thinking, with the scope to make a measurable impact across billions of devices.

Additional Information

• Hybrid working: 2 days per week in our Cambridge office
• Clear progression path toward Senior Director level

Accommodations at Arm

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email [e-mail]. To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed as necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working at Arm

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities at Arm

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Range

£168,300 - £227,700 per year