Software Architect

TipTopJob; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

TipTopJob in Maidenhead is seeking a Chief Software Architect to lead software engineering strategy for advanced cyber and defence systems. You will oversee a team across multiple high-security projects, driving architectures and development processes to deliver secure, scalable solutions.

You will mentor engineers, influence software standards, support bids, and ensure collaboration across software, hardware, and firmware teams while maintaining DV security clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of C/C++, Rust or embedded product development including RTOS.
• Experience with software engineering practices and modern development trends.
• Proven track record delivering complex software to schedule and beyond expectations.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across multiple projects, ensuring optimal approaches and tool chains.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop software requirements, architectures, and designs meeting system and security needs.
• Work with software leads and project managers to create development plans delivering value early to customers.
• Mentor and coach engineers, driving process improvements for technical excellence.
• Specify, design, and review software using UML and SysML modelling tools for modular, compliant solutions.
• Champion CI, automated testing, and secure coding standards.

Skills

C/C++

Rust

Embedded development

RTOS

DevSecOps

Automated testing

MISRA

Tools

Version control

Bug tracking

SysML/UML tooling

Job description

Are you ready to redefine defence technology and lead innovative software solutions that truly make a difference? This is your chance to join a company at the forefront of pioneering advanced cryptographic and key management solutions. As a **Chief Software Architect**, you will lead and shape the software engineering strategy for advanced cyber and defence systems, overseeing a team of 20:30 engineers across multiple high:security projects. The position focuses on defining software architectures, driving best:practice development processes, and ensuring collaboration across software, hardware, systems, and firmware teams to deliver secure, scalable, and high:quality solutions. The role requires deep expertise in embedded and application software development using technologies such as C/C++, Rust, Linux, and RTOS environments, alongside experience with DevSecOps, automated testing, and secure development standards. In addition to technical leadership, the architect will mentor engineers, support bids and proposals, influence organisational software standards, and contribute to the delivery of mission:critical defence technologies requiring DV security clearance.

What You Will Do

• Provide technical leadership across multiple projects, ensuring optimal approaches, architecture, and tool chains are selected.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop software requirements, architectures, and designs that meet system and security needs.
• Work closely with software leads and project managers to create development plans that deliver value early to customers.
• Mentor and coach software engineers, sharing knowledge and driving process improvements for technical excellence.
• Specify, design, and review software using UML and SysML modelling tools, ensuring high:quality, modular, and compliant solutions.
• Champion best practices in software development, including continuous integration, automated testing, and secure coding standards.

What You Will Bring

• Advanced knowledge and experience in C/C++, Rust, or embedded product development, including RTOSes.
• Expertise in software engineering practices, methodologies, and technology trends.
• Proven track record of delivering complex software solutions to schedule while exceeding customer expectations.
• Experience with tools such as version control systems, change control, bug tracking, and automated testing frameworks.
• Familiarity with defence or high:assurance development standards, including coding standards like MISRA.

Location

The role is an onsite role in Maidenhead, offering good flexibility with working hours.