Head of Software

Plextek

Cambridge

On-site

GBP 110,000 - 160,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Excellent package

Career progression opportunities

Friendly work environment

Social events

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Head of Software to lead a multidisciplinary software department. The successful candidate will manage a talented team across embedded software and AI/ML projects, ensuring quality delivery and fostering continuous improvement. Ideal applicants will have experience in technical leadership, team management, and client relationship building. The firm offers a stimulating work environment with opportunities for career development in a supportive setting.

Qualifications

Track record of relevant industry experience in technical leadership.
Experience in managing teams and developing individuals.
Exposure to Defence industry and ability to obtain Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

Manage and grow a capable software team with diverse technology skills.
Drive continuous improvement in software development processes.
Oversee project planning and ensure quality of outcomes.
Oversee performance reviews, succession planning and capability development.
Collaborate with senior management to align with business goals.

Skills

Technical leadership

Embedded software

DSP

FPGA

AI/ML

Team management

Client relationship management

Job description

Your new career starts here with Plextek

About the position

COMPANY VISION

Plextek is a leading choice for employees and customers for exceptional engineering and strategic innovation to create better, safer, and more sustainable technologies and products.

OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS

Being a responsible business, we work with integrity and honesty. We share success with our people and our communities. We embrace diversity in outlook and work as a team with colleagues, customers, and suppliers to provide the best technical solution and professional service experience. We empower each other, we’re adaptable, show initiative, and deliver on our commitments together.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced and technically capable individual to lead a multidisciplinary software department, reporting to the SVP of Engineering. Working across embedded software, DSP, FPGA and AI/ML, our software department supports technologies such as radar, sensing, communications, and an ever‑growing range of client projects across sectors as diverse as defence to healthcare.

The role includes people leadership, capability development, technical oversight, and ensuring delivery quality across our software activities. The successful candidate will work closely with senior management to achieve the company’s strategic business goals and growth ambitions, and to drive a culture of continuous improvement and productivity. You will provide direct line management for senior members of the team as well as overall line management of the whole software department. You will also support project planning and resourcing, maintain oversight of ongoing technical work, and help develop and maintain best practices across the group.

Responsibilities will include:

Manage and grow a capable, responsive, motivated, and delivery-focused team across embedded, DSP, FPGA, and AI/ML software and firmware.
Lead active succession planning and capacity planning activities, hiring and developing people as necessary to ensure that the software department is the right size and shape, with the right mix of skills, for the delivery demands placed upon it
Make decisions on investments in tools and training
Encourage knowledge sharing across the team
Oversee appraisals and provide performance and development feedback
Process Improvement:
- Drive continuous improvement changes to the software development processes, enhancing quality and efficiency and maintaining a position at the forefront of current industry best practice
- Ensure governance of quality, rules, standards, and processes within the team
- Conduct reviews and audits of software projects to ensure outcomes meet quality standards, driving improvements for future projects
Technical Sales Support:
- Contribute to technical sales activities, including costing, proposal creation, and reviewing technical content for client bids
- Develop and maintain strong customer relationships, working in conjunction with the commercial and project management teams
- Identify and mitigate technical risks on software projects
Project Planning and Resourcing:
- Collaborate with other department heads to manage project resourcing, ensuring that projects are appropriately staffed and that team members are getting the right opportunities to support their development

THE PERSON

The ideal candidate will be a high-calibre individual with:

A track record of relevant industry experience, preferably in a fee-for-service environment, in which they have provided technical leadership to deliver high-quality solutions
Technical breadth covering embedded software, DSP, FPGA firmware, test, cloud, and AI/ML – with depth in at least one of these areas and an ability to understand concepts across a broad range of technology areas
Proven experience of line management of individuals, managing managers, and developing teams
Ability to build strong relationships of mutual trust and respect with clients and colleagues
A passion for improving software development processes, and comfortable balancing process rigour with the needs of a wide variety of types of project – from studies, proofs of concept and early prototypes, to full scale high quality production systems
A good balance of technical, commercial / business and people skills
Exposure to the Defence industry, and able to obtain Security Clearance

THE REWARDS

We offer an excellent package, a stimulating environment, and a real interest in your development to encourage you to achieve your full potential. We are a versatile business, able to support career progression as appropriate.

We are based just south of Cambridge with easy road and rail routes to the vibrant city centre. We provide a friendly and supportive working environment, including regular on-site and off-site social events.

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