Head of Software

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™ in Cambridge is seeking a Head of Software to lead and grow a software capability across embedded software, DSP, FPGA/firmware and AI/ML. You will mentor senior technical leaders, shape engineering standards and ensure the right people tackle the right problems.

You'll own hiring, succession planning, tooling and process, drive technical excellence, and balance hands-on depth with strategic leadership while delivering high-quality

Qualifications

• Strong software engineering leadership experience, including managing managers or senior technical leads.
• Technical depth in at least one of embedded software, DSP, FPGA/firmware or AI/ML.
• Breadth to confidently lead multidisciplinary software teams.
• Experience improving engineering processes without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Commercial awareness – including customer engagement, proposals, technical bids or consultancy.
• Defence exposure and eligibility for UK Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• You’ll have real ownership over how the software function grows: hiring, succession planning, technical capability, tooling, process and ultimately the quality of what gets delivered.

Skills

Software leadership

Embedded software

DSP

FPGA/firmware

AI/ML

Multidisciplinary team leadership

Job description

How many Head of Software roles give you responsibility for embedded software, DSP, FPGA and AI/ML under one roof?

We’re working with an established Cambridge engineering business developing complex technology across radar, sensing, communications and other high-performance systems.

They’re looking for a Head of Software to lead and develop the entire software capability - managing senior technical leaders, shaping engineering standards, building capability and ensuring the right people are deployed onto the right problems.

This isn't about disappearing into management. You'll need enough technical depth to challenge engineers, understand risk and make good decisions across a genuinely broad technology landscape.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Strong software engineering leadership experience, including managing managers or senior technical leads
• Technical depth in at least one of embedded software, DSP, FPGA/firmware or AI/ML
• Enough breadth to confidently lead multidisciplinary software teams
• Experience improving engineering processes without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
• Commercial awareness – ideally including customer engagement, proposals, technical bids or consultancy
• Defence exposure and eligibility for UK Security Clearance

You’ll have real ownership over how the software function grows: hiring, succession planning, technical capability, tooling, process and ultimately the quality of what gets delivered.

£110,000 | Hybrid working | 3 days/week onsite near Cambridge

If you're already leading software teams but want broader technical ownership and a genuine seat at the engineering leadership table, get in touch.