Engineering Manager

Rebel Recruitment; Lincoln; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Rebel Recruitment in Lincoln is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a software team building C++ applications that connect to real-world hardware.

This role blends leadership with hands-on coding, architecture definition, and collaboration with electronics, RF and mechanical engineers. Hybrid work with occasional travel is available.

You will drive Scrum delivery via JIRA, ensure validation, and shape system architectures while staying close to the technology.

Qualifications

• Strong C++ development experience and ability to lead a software team.
• Experience leading a Scrum-based software delivery process.
• Willingness to engage with customers and other engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of C++ software that integrates with in-house hardware.
• Define software and system architecture and guide development and testing.
• Manage the Scrum process using JIRA and ensure validation and verification.
• Engage directly with customers and other engineering teams when required.

Skills

C++ development

Team leadership

Scrum / Agile

Customer collaboration

Security clearance eligible

Tools

JIRA

ArchiMate

Sparx EA

UML

SysML

BPMN

Qt

Job description

Role: Engineering Manager Location: Lincoln Working Arrangement: Hybrid Salary:Up to £85k Build software that connects directly to real-world technology. We're looking for a Software Engineering Manager who enjoys being close to the technology, leading a team while still getting hands-on with the engineering. This is an opportunity to shape the architecture, develop C++ applications and work alongside electronic, RF and mechanical engineers to create complex systems that solve genuine customer problems. You'll have a key role in taking customer requirements and turning them into robust software and system architectures. You'll lead the software team, manage Scrum delivery through JIRA and take responsibility for validation and verification — but this isn't a role where you'll spend your time purely managing. You'll also be coding, testing and contributing to technical decisions.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead the development and delivery of C++ software that integrates with in-house hardware, working closely with a multi-disciplinary engineering team. You'll define software and system architecture, guide the team through development and testing, and ensure what is delivered meets both the technical architecture and customer requirements. You'll also manage the team's Scrum process using JIRA, support technical development and documentation, and engage directly with customers where required.

What you'll bring

You'll have strong C++ development experience combined with experience leading or managing a software engineering team. You'll be comfortable working in a Scrum environment, using JIRA and engaging with customers and other engineering disciplines. You'll need to hold active UK Security Clearance, or be eligible and willing to undergo the clearance process. Experience with enterprise architecture, ArchiMate, Sparx EA, UML, SysML or BPMN would be useful, as would experience working with FPGA-based systems, embedded hardware or Qt. Knowledge of RF engineering, electronic warfare, drones, defence, aerospace, sensing, complex data systems or AI and analytics would also be valuable — but we're interested in your engineering capability first.

Why this role?

This is a hands-on engineering leadership role where you'll see your work move beyond a screen and into real systems. Because the software is developed alongside the hardware it operates with, you'll be closely involved in integration, testing and demonstrations. The role is primarily based at our Lincoln office, where collaboration and hands-on development are a big part of the working environment. There is flexibility to work from home when needed, alongside occasional UK and international travel for customer meetings, demonstrations and exercises. You'll report directly to the Chief Technology Officer and work within a small, highly collaborative engineering team. In a growing company, you'll have the opportunity to influence how things are done, take ownership beyond your immediate role and get involved in activities you wouldn't normally encounter in a larger organisation — including supporting live trials and, on occasion, flying drones. If you're an experienced software engineer who wants to combine technical leadership with hands-on development and work on challenging systems where the software genuinely interacts with the physical world, we'd like to hear from you.

Please note: candidates must be UK residents and eligible to undergo Security Clearance. We welcome diverse applicants and are dedicated to treating all applicants with dignity and respect, regardless of background.