Lead Software Engineer

Saab UK; Southampton; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking a Lead Software Engineer for the Saab Seaeye Underwater Robotics Business in Fareham. You will lead design and implementation of software for subsea vehicles and robotic functions, reporting to the Software Manager.

The role requires expertise across embedded to application software, system architecture, and cross‑functional collaboration with customers. You will guide project delivery and mentor engineers in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years' experience as a Senior Engineer.
• Degree in a relevant Engineering Discipline.
• Broad understanding of software from embedded to applications.
• Leading multi‑disciplined teams of software engineers.
• Developing software architecture for complex systems from scratch.
• Sound understanding of modern software methods and technologies.
• Maintain a system level approach and avoid detail drift.
• Derive system level requirements and lower level requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implement software solutions for underwater robotics applications.
• Deliver software content for Saab products by coordinating inputs from multiple engineering disciplines.
• Bind inputs from software and engineering teams to ensure on‑time project delivery.
• Mentor junior engineers and develop processes to achieve industry best practice.

Skills

Senior engineer experience

Team leadership

Software architecture

Requirements engineering

Safety concepts

Customer interaction

Delegation

Resource management

Standards awareness

Cybersecurity awareness

Mentoring

Process improvement

Communication

Estimating

Planning

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

C++

JavaScript

Python

XML

JSON

HTML

CSS

Angular

Django

Node.js

React

Apache

WebSockets

Docker

TCP/IP

UDP

SQL

Wireshark

System log analysis

Cyber Security

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.

The Role:

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to join our Saab Seaeye Underwater Robotics Business in Fareham.

The role will be lead design and implement software solutions for underwater robotics applications in line with the company's business needs through innovation, creativity and professionalism.

Able to demonstrate expertise and experience in software used on industrial/vehicle/vessel systems.

Reporting to the Software Manager the Software Lead role involves taking responsibility for the delivery of projects and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver technically complex software projects for subsea vehicles and associated robotic functions. Typically requiring input from several differing software and engineering disciplines and supporting functions the software lead is able to bind these inputs together to successfully deliver the software content for Saab products.

Qualifications and Skills:

Required skills:

• A minimum of 7 years' experience as a Senior Engineer.
• A Degree in a relevant Engineering Discipline.
• Broad understanding of software from embedded though to applications
• Leading multi-disciplined teams of software engineers
• Able to develop a software architecture for complex systems from scratch
• Sound understanding of modern software methods and technologies
• Able to maintain a system level approach and not get lost in the detail
• Able to develop system level requirements and derive lower level requirements to achieve these
• Sound understanding of safety concepts and design
• Able to interface directly with customers
• Able to act as a technical authority
• Able to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Able to estimate work content and duration
• Able to plan work loading for teams ensuring no team member is overloaded
• Able to develop and instigate processes to ensure industry best practice is achieved
• Able to ensure appropriate levels of Software Quality are achieved for projects
• Able to mentor and develop junior engineers
• Ability to delegate tasks
• Able to manage resources and budgets
• Practical understanding of standards and application of standards
• Appreciation of Cyber Security and the impacts on design

In addition, you will be Able to demonstrate software skills in some of the following technologies on both Windows and Linux:

• C++
• Javascript
• Python
• XML
• JSON
• HTML
• CSS
• Web backend servers (Angular, Django, NodeJS, React, Apache or similar)
• Web Sockets
• Docker
• TCP-IP / UDP
• SQL or other databases
• Dev tools (Wireshark, system log interrogation etc..)
• Databases
• Cyber Security

Desirable:

• Exposure to IP video and video routing
• Familiarity in design and testing of control software
• Familiarity with Systems serving Real Time Information via Web Sockets
• Use of DDS and interfacing with it
• Message Queues (Active MQ/Rabbit MQ/ZeroMQ)
• GUI Development experience (.Net GUI framework, Qt 6.2 or previous versions)
• Developing and debugging software for application software in Visual studio (2013, 2017, 2022)
• Customer facing API's using web technologies

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.