Head of Software Engineering

Saab; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK, part of the Saab group, is recruiting a Head of Software Engineering for the BlueBear team. You will lead software delivery across research, product development and customer programmes, ensuring high quality, secure systems and effective engineering maturity.

You will shape software strategy, manage resources, and foster a high‑performing culture in a national security environment. Strong leadership, DevOps mastery and stakeholder collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading software engineering teams.
• Experience delivering complex software across research, product development and customer programmes.
• Strong knowledge of DevOps, CI/CD, and modern software engineering practices.
• Ability to manage technical risk and drive engineering maturity.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Software Engineering function to deliver projects on time and within cost targets.
• Define and execute software strategy aligned with roadmaps and business objectives.
• Provide governance and technical direction across all software activities.
• Develop and grow engineering capability and culture across the organisation.
• Collaborate with Project Managers and stakeholders to ensure successful outcomes.
• Drive automated testing, CI/CD, DevOps and modern software development practices.

Skills

Leadership

Software engineering

DevOps

CI/CD

Architecture

Stakeholder engagement

Security clearance

Job description

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world‑leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world‑leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

What You Will Be Part Of

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe.

Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems.

Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role:

The Head of Software Engineering is the focal point for software engineering capability within BlueBear a Saab company and is accountable for the performance, development and growth of the Software Engineering function. You will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of software solutions across research, product development and customer programmes, encompassing mission systems, embedded software, autonomy‑enabling technologies, DevOps capabilities and supporting engineering infrastructure.

The role will provide strategic, technical and people leadership to ensure the business develops and delivers high‑quality, innovative and secure software systems. Working closely with Engineering, Product, Programme and Saab stakeholders, the role is responsible for defining software strategy, developing engineering capability, improving engineering maturity and fostering a high‑performing engineering culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Software Engineering function to ensure successful delivery of projects and products to agreed cost, schedule, quality and performance targets.
• Define and execute the Software Engineering strategy in alignment with business objectives and future product roadmaps.
• Provide leadership, governance and technical direction across all software engineering activities.
• Support the definition and execution of the organisation's long-term technical vision.
• Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement throughout the engineering organisation.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, industry trends and software engineering best practices.

Engineering Capability & Delivery:

• Oversee software development activities across R&D programmes, product development and customer-funded projects.
• Ensure effective planning, prioritisation and utilisation of software engineering resources.
• Establish and maintain software engineering metrics and performance indicators.
• Lead software delivery reviews and ensure effective management of technical risks, dependencies and issues.
• Work collaboratively with Project Managers and Technical Leads to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Support software‑related customer demonstrations, trials and technical reviews.

Architecture, Quality & Engineering Excellence:

• Establish and maintain software engineering standards, processes and governance.
• Ensure appropriate architectural oversight across software products and technology platforms.
• Champion best practices in software design, testing, configuration management and release management.
• Drive continuous improvement in software quality, reliability, safety and security.
• Promote the adoption of automated testing, CI/CD, DevOps and modern software development practices.
• Manage technical debt and ensure long‑term maintainability of software products and frameworks.

People Leadership:

• Lead, coach, mentor and develop the Software Engineering team and individuals technical growth.
• Build organisational capability through recruitment, succession planning and skills development.
• Conduct performance management, objective setting and career development activities.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high‑performing engineering culture.
• Work closely with HR to ensure effective workforce planning and talent management.

DevOps & Engineering Infrastructure:

• Ensure the software organisation has effective tooling, development environments and engineering infrastructure.
• Support continual improvement of source control, build systems, CI/CD pipelines, test automation and deployment processes.
• Oversee software development tooling, licensing and open‑source governance.
• Drive improvements in developer productivity, engineering efficiency and operational resilience.

Business Development & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Support business development activities through technical leadership, customer engagement and bid support.
• Contribute to proposal development, technical strategy and solution definition activities.
• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners.
• Identify opportunities across Saab and external organisations that can expand BlueBear's software capability and business opportunities.
• Represent the Software Engineering function at internal and external reviews, workshops and technical forums.

As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or have the ability to gain it.

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.