Director of Software Engineering (Systems Software)

You’ll set direction, enable teams, and drive execution across multiple domains. In practice, this includes:

• Leading and developing a globally distributed organisation of 60+ engineers
• Aligning priorities across kernel, drivers, and userspace teams
• Collaborating with architecture, hardware, and product groups to deliver co-optimised solutions
• Setting clear roadmaps that balance near-term delivery with long-term strategy
• Building strong leadership capability and supporting the growth of senior engineers
• Influencing across a complex organisation to bring teams together around shared goals, At Arm, we embrace the benefits AI can bring, including in recruitment. You may use AI to support your preparation, such as improving the clarity of written responses, practicing interview questions, or learning more about our industry. However, your application, and interview responses must reflect your own thinking, experience, and abilities. We want to understand your authentic perspective, creativity, and approach to problem solving. As such, you may not use AI to complete assigned tasks as part of any assessments. If you plan to use AI-supported or assistive technologies as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact so we can support you.

Recruitment Adjustments and Accommodations

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email . To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed to the extent necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

We’re looking for Directors who can lead at scale while staying close to the technology, with the depth to guide direction and challenge thinking.

• Experience leading large, distributed software engineering teams (60+ engineers)
• Strong systems software background, with hands-on experience in one or more of the following:
• Linux kernel development
• Device driver development (e.g. media, graphics, or similar subsystems)
• Power and performance engineering, including system-level optimisation
• Ability to connect low-level implementation (kernel, drivers, firmware) to system-level performance, efficiency, and scalability outcomes
• Track record of delivering measurable improvements in performance, power, or system behaviour in production environments
• Experience developing high-performing teams and growing senior technical leaders
• Credibility to engage deeply with engineers across the stack and influence technical direction

NICE TO HAVE

• Media, graphics, or multimedia subsystem experience
• Android or userspace performance exposure
• Familiarity with Arm architecture or hardware/software co-design
• Experience working with open-source communities

We provide benefits beyond a competitive salary to reward our people for their dedication and contributions.

Arm is looking for a Director of Software Engineering to help lead a broad organisation spanning Systems Software (Kernel, Firmware, Power), Userspace (Performance and Enablement) and System Modelling tools.

This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of low-level systems software and large-scale engineering delivery. You’ll guide a distributed team of 60+ engineers (within a wider organisation of 300+), shaping software that directly influences the performance, efficiency, and scalability of Arm-based platforms!

You’ll bring together expertise across kernel, drivers, and userspace to deliver meaningful improvements in real-world systems, while collaborating across Arm and the wider open-source ecosystem., Power the Future on Arm

Working in software engineering at Arm is about shaping a future of technology for which we don’t yet have words. Our engineers lead innovation in physical IP, AI and machine learning, cloud architecture, automotive tech, and every aspect of computing that matters.

Spanning software’s full spectrum, from compilers to AI-powered IoT and beyond, your code can enable virtually anything to be produced on silicon. Whether you’re developing award-winning VR gaming or life-enhancing medical equipment, you can improve the lives of millions by being your brilliant self at Arm.