Lead Software Engineer

pqshield; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share options

Hybrid/flexible work

Private health insurance

Annual leave 25 days

Wellness weeks

Home office budget

Gym discount

Job summary

pqshield seeks a Lead Software Engineer to guide a cryptographic software IP team through design, verification, and customer delivery. This role blends hands-on technical leadership with people management to shape architecture and grow a high-quality engineering function in a fast-paced deep-tech environment.

You will plan and lead cross-functional efforts, oversee IP design projects, and mentor engineers while engaging with customers on integration questions and technical sales discussions.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience in software design and/or verification.
• Expert-level C programming in an embedded environment.
• Track record of building software IP blocks from specification to customer delivery.
• Understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and key management systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan and allocate work with other engineering leaders and project managers to deliver against the product roadmap.
• Coordinate and deliver application and embedded software IP design projects from conception through to customer integration.
• Line-manage a software engineering team, including hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, coaching, and resolving conflicts.
• Mentor colleagues and act as the internal point of contact for software design expertise.
• Define architectural solutions for complex algorithmic and system-level challenges, collaborating with verification engineers on test plans.
• Engage with customers on integration questions and contribute to technical sales conversations.

Skills

C programming

Embedded systems

Communication skills

Development lifecycle

Education

Degree in Electronic Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

GitLab CI

Python

Arm/RISC-V

Job description

Role overview

We are recruiting a Lead Software Engineer to guide a cryptographic software IP team through the full development lifecycle, from design and verification to customer delivery. The role combines hands‑on technical leadership with people management, shaping architectural direction and helping grow a high-quality engineering function in a fast‑moving deep‑tech environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan and allocate work with other engineering leaders and project managers to deliver against the product roadmap.
• Coordinate and deliver application and embedded software IP design projects from conception through to customer integration.
• Line‑manage a software engineering team, including hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, coaching, and resolving conflicts.
• Mentor colleagues and act as the internal point of contact for software design expertise.
• Define architectural solutions for complex algorithmic and system‑level challenges, collaborating with verification engineers on test plans.
• Engage with customers on integration questions and contribute to technical sales conversations.

Requirements

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
• At least 10 years of experience in software design and/or verification.
• Expert‑level C programming in an embedded environment.
• Track record of building software IP blocks from initial specification through to customer delivery.
• Understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and key management systems.
• Strong communication skills and confidence planning development cycles with project managers.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with post‑quantum cryptography standards such as NIST PQC.
• Rust experience in embedded environments, plus Arm or RISC‑V knowledge.
• Knowledge of side‑channel attack resistance and countermeasures.
• Confidence with GitLab CI or similar continuous integration practices, plus Python proficiency.

Benefits and work setup

• Competitive salary with a share option scheme and flexible or hybrid working arrangements.
• Private health insurance for you and your family, 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and two wellness weeks.
• A working‑from‑home budget, 50% gym membership discount, and a collaborative team environment.