Senior Software Technical Lead

Holt Recruitment; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Holt Recruitment is seeking an experienced Senior Software Technical Lead for a leading technology organisation in the secure communications and defence sector. You will provide technical leadership across the development of secure software solutions, combining hands-on engineering delivery with governance and mentorship.

You will shape software architecture, establish engineering standards, and work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high‑assurance systems.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering environments.
• Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
• Proven experience leading software development activities and defining engineering processes.
• Strong understanding of software quality frameworks, governance, and technical reviews.
• Experience in secure or regulated engineering environments.
• Must be a sole UK national and eligible to obtain UK security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define, improve, and maintain software development processes, tools, and engineering workflows.
• Provide architectural guidance and technical oversight across software development activities.
• Establish and enforce quality standards, peer review processes, and engineering best practices.
• Support project delivery by identifying and removing technical barriers.

Skills

Technical leadership

Software architecture

Leadership & mentorship

Education

Degree in Software Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

C/C++

Embedded systems

Job description

A leading technology organisation operating within the secure communications and defence sector is seeking an experienced Senior Software Technical Lead to provide technical leadership across the development of secure software solutions.

This is a high-impact role combining hands‑on engineering delivery with technical governance, process improvement, and team mentorship.

You will act as a key technical authority, driving software engineering excellence, improving development practices, and supporting multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex, high‑assurance systems.

Working closely with software engineers, systems engineers, and project teams, you will help shape software architecture, establish engineering standards, and ensure successful delivery against technical and programme objectives.

Due to business requirements applicants must be a sole UK national and eligible to obtain UK security clearance.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Engineering Governance

• Define, improve, and maintain software development processes, tools, and engineering workflows.
• Provide architectural guidance and technical oversight across software development activities.
• Establish and enforce quality standards, peer review processes, and engineering best practices.
• Support project delivery by identifying and removing technical barriers.

Team Mentorship & Development

• Mentor and support software engineers, helping to develop technical capability and engineering excellence.
• Identify skills gaps, training requirements, and future capability needs.
• Promote collaboration across software, systems, and wider engineering teams.

Software Development & Delivery

• Lead software architecture design and implementation for embedded systems and user applications.
• Drive software verification and validation activities, including design verification testing.
• Support complex technical investigations, defect resolution, and sustaining engineering activities.
• Provide technical support across legacy systems, upgrades, and component lifecycle challenges.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years experience within software engineering environments.
• Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Proven experience leading software development activities and defining engineering processes.
• Strong understanding of software quality frameworks, governance, and technical reviews.
• Experience working within secure or regulated engineering environments.
• Must be a sole UK national and eligible to obtain UK security clearance.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with high-assurance software development standards and secure coding practices.
• Strong low-level programming experience using C/C++ within embedded systems environments.
• Experience working with microcontrollers and Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).
• Experience mentoring engineers and improving technical capability without direct line management responsibility.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take a leading technical role within a highly skilled engineering environment, shaping software development practices and contributing to the delivery of secure, mission‑critical technology.

You will have the opportunity to influence architecture, mentor engineers, and drive engineering excellence across complex programmes.