Director of Software Engineering

Block Engineering is an award-winning developer of quantum cascade lasers and chemical detection systems used in research, industrial, semiconductor, life sciences, and safety/security applications. The company is located in Southborough, Massachusetts (greater Boston metro area).

Block Engineering is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead our software development efforts. We are seeking a hands-on manager who can individually contribute to software coding and development while also leading the design and architecture of our code, as well as the management of other contributors.

All software development will involve embedded C/C++ and Python. Our target environments are Linux, ARM-based systems and other embedded devices.

The position is hybrid, with four days/week on-site at the Block Engineering HQ in Southborough, MA.

Responsibilities will include:

• Coding/Development: Hands-on development of software applications using C and C++ in an embedded environment.
• Lead the company’s integration of AI development tools such as Cursor, Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.
• Manage code infrastructure and documentation on services such as GitHub and Jira.
• Ensure on-time delivery of projects including design documents, reference materials and tests.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to design, build, and test new solutions to meet customer requirements. Manage coding efforts of all contributors.
• Ensure consistency of your code and input from those teams you integrate with. Design, write, debug, document, test and release software used for hardware control, algorithms, communication, etc.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• Proficiency in C, C++, and Python, including experience in embedded Linux environments.
• BS degree or higher in Computer Science/Engineering or Electrical Engineering.
• At least five years of experience as a lead contributor or manager of a development team.
• Experience using AI tools such as Cursor, Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.
• Capacity to develop build and delivery infrastructure (GitHub Actions, Docker, etc.)
• Any of the following would also be beneficial: experience with FPGA programming (VHDL/Verilog), algorithm optimization, and/or analytical instruments.
• Ability to work successfully with people at all levels of the organization and within all functional areas. Excellent listening, written and verbal communication skills.