Head of Software

Head of Software

Location: Cambridgeshire

Salary: Competitive, dependent upon experience

Newman Stewart is partnering with a specialist technology business to recruit a Head of Software.

Our client develops advanced hardware and software platforms supporting complex technical systems. This appointment offers the opportunity to lead and shape the organisation's software capability, bringing together multiple software disciplines, strengthening engineering effectiveness and establishing the technical direction required to support future product development.

Job Summary

Operating as a senior member of the engineering leadership team, the Head of Software will provide direction across software design, development and delivery activities spanning embedded systems, application software and supporting infrastructure. Responsibilities include defining software strategy, establishing engineering standards and ensuring software capability remains aligned with product and technology objectives.

Working closely with engineering, product and operational stakeholders, the position will support improvements in delivery performance, organisational alignment and technical consistency across multiple software teams and development disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across software design, development and delivery activities throughout the organisation.
• Lead software managers, team leads and engineers across UK and offshore teams.
• Develop and maintain a coherent software strategy aligned with product, platform and hardware roadmaps.
• Drive improvements in software quality, robustness, reliability and delivery performance.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, software development practices and technical governance.
• Evaluate architectures, tooling, processes and organisational structures to improve engineering effectiveness.
• Work closely with engineering, product, operations and executive stakeholders to align software delivery with business priorities.
• Develop software capability through coaching, recruitment and organisational development.

Experience & Background

The successful candidate will bring proven experience leading software engineering organisations within technically complex environments. A strong background spanning embedded, systems and application-level software, together with experience defining software architecture, engineering standards and development practices, will be important to the role.

They will demonstrate the ability to improve delivery performance, guide technical decision making and influence stakeholders across multiple engineering disciplines. A collaborative leadership style, strong analytical capability and commitment to engineering excellence will also be essential.

To Apply

This is an excellent opportunity to lead a strategically important engineering function within a growing technology organisation. Interested candidates are invited to apply accordingly. All submissions will be reviewed, and suitable candidates will be contacted directly.