Job Title: Software Team Lead – Safety-Critical Embedded Systems

Location: Cheltenham

Salary: £DOE - Competitive

Hybrid Working

Key Skills: Safety Critical Software, Aerospace, DO-178C, ARP, Embedded, Technical Leadership, Engineering, ARP4754, ARINC 653, DO-254, DO-248

An industry leader in advanced technology solutions for aerospace and defence applications is seeking an experienced Software Team Lead to guide the development of real-time, safety-critical embedded systems. This role offers the opportunity to lead a team of skilled engineers in designing and delivering high-reliability software that plays a key role in critical control systems.

Role Overview

As the Software Team Lead, you will oversee the full software development lifecycle, from requirements capture and system design to implementation, testing, and verification. You will ensure compliance with DO-178C Level A standards while driving technical excellence, innovation, and efficiency. This position requires both hands-on technical expertise and strong leadership skills to manage a collaborative and high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Define requirements and lead the design, development, and verification of bare-metal, real-time embedded software in C.
• Ensure adherence to DO-178C Level A standards, with full traceability and rigorous testing.
• Conduct detailed design and code reviews to uphold software quality.

Team & Project Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, ensuring effective collaboration and performance.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including hardware, systems, and test engineering to ensure seamless software-hardware integration.
• Report progress to programme stakeholders and contribute to project reviews.

Required Skills & Experience

Technical Expertise

• Strong experience developing bare-metal real-time embedded systems in C.
• Deep understanding of DO-178C Level A processes and safety-critical software development.
• Knowledge of certification requirements, including MCDC testing.
• Familiarity with debugging tools, hardware interfaces, and safety analysis techniques.
• (Optional) Experience with RTOS concepts and real-time software design.

Leadership

• Proven experience leading software teams, ideally in safety-critical or aerospace sectors.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong communication skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Desirable Skills

• Experience in aerospace or other high-reliability domains.
• Familiarity with safety-critical standards such as ARP4754, ARINC 653, DO-254, or DO-248.
• Understanding of hardware/software integration and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.

Benefits

• Flexible working within core hours.
• 25 days annual leave (with buy/sell options) plus bank holidays.
• Competitive pension contributions, increasing with service.
• Life assurance (4x annual salary).
• Flexible benefits package.
• Sports and social club.
• Supportive, collaborative work environment with regular team events.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Current Security Clearance (SC) or the ability to gain is required to be considered for this opening