Lead Software Engineer

BAE Systems; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in the UK is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to support software development and team management in a hybrid work environment. The ideal candidate has experience in the software development lifecycle and strong programming skills in languages like C or Java. This role offers diverse responsibilities and an opportunity to work on cutting-edge military programs.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and lifestyle benefits

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• Experience with software development lifecycle processes for requirements, design, coding, test, and delivery.
• Proficient in C, C++, Ada, Java, Rust or Go.
• Experience in leading a development team.

Responsibilities

• Support early software team formation and establish production processes.
• Lead software team management and reporting.
• Design software based on system models.

Skills

Software development lifecycle processes

C, C++, Ada, Java, Rust or Go development

Development team leadership

Job description

Job Title: Lead Software Engineer

Location: Warton – we offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: £54,793+

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting early software team formation such as organisational framework, establishing processes and tools are fit for software production, software sizing estimating, early software requirements, design and development concepting
• Leading software team including team management and team task planning & status reporting
• Leading team meetings / DSUMS / Agile reviews
• Design of TLS Software based on the requirements from the Systems Models
• Leading Software coding and testing including code reviews automated DevSecOps techniques
• Co-ordinating with TLS integration to ensure end-to-end functional testing of developed software
• Responding to both internal and external queries regarding the Software product in a timely fashion via the approved process
• Bug/Fault analysis and rectification

Your skills and experiences:

Essential

• Software development lifecycle processes for requirements, design, coding, test and delivery
• C, C++, Ada, Java, Rust or Go software development
• Development team leadership

Desirable

One of the following:

• Experience of developing real-time applications
• Database development and administration
• Knowledge and experience in Object Oriented design and Model Based engineering tools and techniques would be advantageous e.g. IBM Rational Rhapsody
• A working knowledge of the overall systems engineering lifecycle
• Military/Avionics subsystem knowledge
• Experience of Agile methodology supported by the Atlassian toolset would be advantageous
• Knowledge of the overall systems engineering lifecycle
• DO-178C and DO-330 familiarity

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The TLS Foundation team:

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be working as part of the TLS Foundation Team to perform early software team establishment and mobilisation with a view to leading one Software Team, as part of a large TLS area, to develop, integrate and deliver the software across TLS on the FCAS/GCAP military platform.

This is an exciting opportunity to join FCAS/GCAP 6th Generation Through Life Services (TLS) Development as part of a major national and international collaborative programme which is critical to the future UK and International defence. You will be involved in different systems including safety and security related work and collaborate with other teams across the wider TLS & Software business.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 14h August 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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