Lead Cyber Software Engineer - DV Cleared

I’m currently working with an organisation delivering specialist cyber capabilities across UK Defence and National Security, looking for an experienced Lead Cyber Software Engineer to join their team in Manchester.

This is an opportunity to take a hands-on technical leadership role, guiding software engineering teams delivering high-assurance cyber capabilities for mission-critical environments.

You’ll lead and mentor teams of up to 12 engineers, helping shape technical direction and drive the design, development and delivery of secure, robust software for operational technology (OT) cyber projects. You’ll remain close to the engineering while supporting technical decision-making and ensuring solutions meet demanding security, performance and assurance requirements.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Leading, mentoring and developing software engineering teams of up to 12 engineers.
• Providing technical direction across the design, development and delivery of high-assurance software.
• Developing and reviewing C++ code for cyber and security-critical systems.
• Driving engineering standards, secure coding practices, software quality and verification.
• Supporting technical architecture and key design decisions.
• Working on operational technology (OT) cyber projects involving real-world systems.
• Collaborating with cyber specialists, systems engineers and stakeholders across Defence and National Security.
• Supporting software throughout its lifecycle within secure, classified environments., Take ownership of technical direction while remaining hands-on.
• Work on complex operational cyber projects with real-world impact.
• Join a highly technical engineering environment supporting long-term National Security programmes.
• Manchester-based role with hybrid working.

Strong commercial software engineering experience, particularly with C++.

• Proven experience leading and mentoring software engineering teams, ideally of up to 12 engineers.
• A background in secure, high-assurance or safety-critical software development.
• Strong understanding of software design, secure coding and verification practices.
• Experience providing technical leadership, guiding engineering decisions and maintaining high development standards.
• The ability to remain hands-on while leading a team and delivering complex technical projects.
• Experience working within Defence, Cyber or National Security environments.
• Active UKSV DV or eDV clearance.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience with Go (Golang) and/or Rust.
• Background in vulnerability research, reverse engineering or low-level software development.
• Exposure to operational technology, embedded systems or systems-level programming.
• Cyber security qualifications such as CEH, OSCP or equivalent.
• Experience delivering technical capabilities for MOD or wider National Security customers., If you’re an experienced C++ Engineer with a strong technical leadership background and active UKSV DV or eDV clearance, get in touch to find out more.