Head of Software - Consultancy

Head of Software - Consultancy

Cambridge | Permanent

We supporting a leading engineering consultancy delivering innovative technology across sectors including defence, healthcare, communications and sensing.

We are looking for an experienced Head of Software to lead a multidisciplinary software department spanning embedded software, DSP, FPGA and AI/ML. You will combine technical leadership with people management, strategic planning and delivery oversight.

The Role

You will lead and develop a highly capable software team, ensuring the department has the skills, capacity and processes needed to deliver high-quality client projects. You will work closely with senior management, project teams and customers to support growth and continued technical excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, develop and grow a multidisciplinary software team across embedded, DSP, FPGA and AI/ML.
• Oversee recruitment, succession planning, capacity planning, appraisals and professional development.
• Provide technical oversight across software projects, identifying and mitigating technical risks.
• Drive continuous improvement across software development processes, quality standards and best practice.
• Support project planning and resource allocation across the wider engineering organisation.
• Contribute to technical sales, including proposals, costing and client presentations.
• Build strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Promote knowledge sharing, productivity and a culture of continuous improvement.

About You

You'll bring a strong track record of technical leadership within a complex engineering environment, ideally a consultancy or fee-for-service organisation.

You should have:

• Broad technical knowledge across embedded software, DSP, FPGA, cloud and AI/ML, with significant depth in at least one area.
• Proven experience managing engineers, including line management of senior individuals and managers.
• Experience building and developing high-performing technical teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to contribute to bids, proposals and customer relationships.
• A passion for improving engineering processes without compromising technical agility.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to obtain UK Security Clearance.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a broad, technically diverse software function within an established engineering consultancy, while playing a key role in its continued growth and strategic direction.