About this job

The Head of Software is a leadership role accountable for the successfuldelivery of all software (excluding VHDL (VHSIC-HDL) (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language) within SSTL. Overall responsible for a team of software engineers, the Head of Software will work closely with the Engineering Director and Chief Engineer and other members of the Senior Engineering Management Team in order to deliver software that meets project needs (technical and financial) as well as the future strategic direction of the company.

The Head of Software will be accountable for the creation and delivery of the strategic software architecture vision / roadmap and all aspects of the development of software including configuration control and maintainability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a strategic vision and direction for software within SSTL that is aligned with the wider company strategy.
• Establish and stimulate software development standards and processes along with best practices for delivery of scalable and high quality software.
• To drive consistent standards and approaches, including peer review, throughout the software team and ensuring alignment with the top level Engineering Processes.
• Ensure effective internal communications both within the software team and across the wider company.
• Drive and influence discussions about software architecture to positively affect security, usability, maintainability, reusability, and performance (including reliability)
• Research the external environment, and where appropriate identify and recommend alternative methodologies for the development and delivery of software suitable for SSTL applications.
• Remain current with technology trends and find ways to keep teams engaged with these trends.
• Create, implement and maintain a continuous improvement plan for software development and delivery.
• Implement mechanisms to monitor, manage and provide progress on all software development activities.
• Accountable for the on time and to quality delivery of software development projects.
• Supervise resource allocation to assure delivery of committed projects.
• Build relationships across the company to make process improvements that improve the effectiveness of all teams.
• Ensure effective plans are in place to deliver all work and work packages, to the appropriate quality level, within project budget and schedule constraints.
• Ensure risks are identified, managed and communicated to Projects and Engineering.
• Create and maintain the skills matrix for the software team and ensure the team has the skills required to deliver current & future projects in line with the business plan and there is a viable plan in place to retain & develop team members with a particular view to succession planning and single point failures.

Profile

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent in an engineering discipline
• Proven software engineering / development experience ideally within the Aerospace or Automotive industry.
• Line management experience preferred but not essential as training will be given.
• Familiar with more than one software development methodology
• Hands-on experience of coding using more than one recognisedindustry standard language e.g. C/C++, Python, Java
• Embedded software experience
• Ability to envision and deliver software solutions that meet userneeds and/or solve business problems
• Ability to articulate and gain engagement for ideas to both technicaland non-technical audiences
• Good track record with planning and meeting budgets/schedule.
• Highly organised with excellent communication skills
• Ability to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment
• Excellent communication / inter-personal skills
• Commitment to deliver
• Desire to support and guide others
• Well organised and good planning skills.
• Ability to negotiate and delegate.
• Experience of leading teams in working in an Agile environment would be beneficial but not essential. Ability to think and operate in a forward looking and strategic manner, as well as ability to deal with day to day engineering problems.
• Able to demonstrate company mind-sets; accountability, one team, customers and projects rule and audacity.