Lead Software Engineer

Leonardo DRS; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 76,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Generous pension up to 15%

Mental health support

Learning resources

Bonus scheme eligibility

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Leonardo DRS in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced Lead Software Engineer to act as a Technical Authority across Integrated Sensors & Protection. You will guide software architecture and deliver features for defence projects, collaborating with systems, hardware and firmware teams to ensure coherent integration.

The role offers significant autonomy, mentoring responsibilities, and hybrid working arrangements in a global aerospace and defence environment.

Qualifications

• Several years of C++ software engineering experience in safety-critical domains.
• Experience developing new applications to meet user requirements.
• Familiarity with embedded development and cross‑platform Windows/Linux.
• Experience using iterative development lifecycles and Jira/DevOps.
• Ability to define software architecture and design strategies aligned with goals.
• Experience ensuring compliance with standards and governance.

Responsibilities

• Take on pivotal Technical Authority roles within Integrated Sensors & Protection.
• Lead defence projects and influence across critical software components.
• Create innovative software solutions to develop new features.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, and firmware teams for coherent integration.
• Deliver software through the full lifecycle from requirements to certification.
• Mentor and coach engineers to uplift capability and promote excellence.
• Act as accountable technical lead during audits and reviews.

Skills

C++

Embedded development

Windows/Linux

Agile/iterative lifecycles

JIRA

DevOps

Technical leadership

Software architecture

Risk mitigation

Mentoring engineers

Tools

JIRA

DevOps

Job description

Salary: £76,000 - 94,000 per year

Requirements:

• Several years of C++ software engineering experience in aerospace, defence, or other mission/safety-critical domains.
• Experience developing new applications to meet user expectations and within formal constraints.
• Familiarity with tools and approaches to embedded development.
• Experience developing Windows and Linux applications.
• Experience using iterative development lifecycles, for example tailored Agile.
• Experience using tools associated with iterative development lifecycles, such as Jira and DevOps.
• Familiarity with development to design and coding standards.
• Ability to set technical direction, defining software architecture and design strategies aligned with platform and system goals.
• Experience ensuring compliance standards and adherence to internal governance processes.
• Strong skills in technical risk identification and mitigation across software components.
• Hands-on delivery experience from requirements through to certification.
• Background in technical leadership, including architectural design, risk mitigation, or technical governance.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach engineers, uplifting capability and promoting software engineering excellence.
• Familiarity with legacy systems, export controls, interoperability, and long-term product evolution.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines with systems, hardware, and firmware teams.
• Commitment to championing design integrity and acting as the accountable technical lead during audits and reviews.
• A good attitude and willingness to learn.

Responsibilities:

• Take on pivotal Technical Authority roles within our Integrated Sensors & Protection line of business.
• Work on a range of defence projects.
• Combine technical leadership with strategic influence across critical software components or entire projects.
• Create innovative software solutions to develop a new generation of features and capabilities.
• Continuously improve, collaborate, and innovate with other engineers to create market-leading products within the defence industry.
• Set technical direction and define software architecture and design strategies.
• Ensure compliance with standards and internal governance processes.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks across software components.
• Deliver software through the full lifecycle from requirements through to certification.
• Mentor and coach engineers to uplift capability and promote software engineering excellence.
• Collaborate closely with systems, hardware, and firmware teams to ensure coherent integration.
• Act as the accountable technical lead during audits and reviews.

Technologies:

• DevOps
• Embedded
• Firmware
• Hardware
• Support
• JIRA
• Linux
• Security
• Windows
• C++

More:

Here at Leonardo, we are seeking experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our Integrated Sensors & Protection line of business in a pivotal Technical Authority role. This role offers significant autonomy and responsibility for critical software components or entire projects, and direct industry experience is not required. We are a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security, headquartered in Italy, with over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 UK sites. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we offer a comprehensive company-funded benefits package focused on wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance, including generous leave, up to 15% employer pension contribution, mental health support, learning resources, bonus scheme eligibility, flexible benefits, and hybrid working. We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace.

last updated 37 week of 2026