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# Lead Software Engineer - Linux

- **Company:** KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions Ltd
- **Location:** Salford, United Kingdom
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** £65,000
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Testing (Software), Microsoft Windows, Agile Methodology, Fieldbus, C Sharp (Programming Language), C++ (Programming Language), Continuous Integration, Debian Linux, Linux, Embedded C, Linux on Embedded Systems, Ethernet, Extensible Application Markup Language, Microsoft Visual Studio, Windows Presentation Foundation, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), Model View ViewModel, Object-Oriented Software Development, Software Engineering, Systems Architecture, Enterprise Software Applications, Git, Linux Development
- **Published:** November 11, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.apply4u.co.uk/jobs/lead-software-engineer-linux/55664118

## About the Role

Architect-level experience with Linux - genuine, hands-on 'been there, done it' migration experience is essential
Strong hands-on embedded Linux background, with proficiency in C/C++
Minimum 3 years' commercial object-oriented development experience in a C-like language (C++ or C#)
Minimum 5 years' experience developing for embedded Linux systems, with in-depth system architecture knowledge
Experience developing for resource-constrained embedded platforms
Experience with git version control on large-scale applications
Comfortable providing technical (not line-management) leadership to a sizeable team while staying hands-on with development
Desirable
Experience modifying or porting C# applications to run on Linux
Development within the Debian ecosystem, including CI/CD
Experience with GUI/HMI applications for embedded Linux
Familiarity with Microsoft Visual Studio, XAML/WPF (MVVM)
Agile methodologies such as SAFe
Knowledge of M2M protocols (Fieldbus, industrial Ethernet, MQTT)

## Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, technically-led Software Engineer to join a leading global supplier of industrial equipment to the food and beverage market. This is a genuinely significant project: the business is undertaking a large-scale migration of its core platform from Windows to Linux, and you'll provide the technical leadership to make it happen.
This is not a people-management role - it's about technical leadership. You'll be the architect-level authority the team looks to, someone who's been through a Windows-to-Linux migration before and can bring that hard-won experience to guide roughly 30-40 team members through the transition, while remaining genuinely hands-on with the code yourself., Provide technical leadership and guidance to a development team currently working in Windows, as they transition to developing for Linux
Bring architect-level Linux expertise to shape the platform's technical direction - ideally from having led or been closely involved in a similar migration previously
Get hands-on with modifying existing C# code to run on Linux, alongside embedded C/C++ development
Liaise closely with the company's Germany office, who have led the Linux platform project, to ensure alignment between platform and application development - including occasional travel to Germany
Work collaboratively with the applications team leader to develop platform architecture and take full advantage of a Debian-based Linux platform
Elicit requirements from stakeholders, produce technical specifications and documentation
Support defect identification and resolution alongside the Software Test Team
Essential Experience