Location: Bristol (20% onsite)
Duration: 6 month contract
Rate: -81.75ph LTD (Outside IR35)

Role details:

Our client, a prominent entity in the Defence & Security sector, is currently seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer to provide hands-on leadership across a high-priority software delivery programme. Based in Bristol, this contract role requires a self-starter who can swiftly comprehend complex problem domains, translate requirements into actionable deliverables, and drive engineering teams to successful outcomes.

Delivery & Execution

• Own end-to-end technical delivery across the programme.
• Make time-critical delivery decisions in the absence of programme leadership.
• Break down high-level requirements into structured deliverables for engineering teams.
• Sequence work, set priorities, and maintain delivery plans.
• Act as escalation point for blockers, risks, and technical issues.
• Drive tangible progress across multiple engineering and platform workstreams.
• Brief senior leadership when required with concise, reliable updates.

Leadership & Direction

• Set and communicate technical and delivery strategy aligned with design authority.
• Provide technical direction to software engineers, test engineers, and platform engineers.
• Align multidisciplinary teams toward a single, coherent execution plan.
• Take accountability for outcomes, not just inputs or activities.

Stakeholder Management

• Regular engagement with Programme Lead & System Development Practice Lead

Operational Management

• Chair or contribute heavily to planning sessions, triage meetings, and defect calls.
• Ensure work is understood, tracked, and flowing across teams.
• Fill operational gaps where roles are missing, unclear, or underperforming.

People & Capability

• Identify underperformance and capability gaps.
• Advise on hiring, replacement, and resourcing decisions.
• Provide support for team members under pressure.

• Strong background as a Lead Software Engineer or Technical Delivery Lead.
• Ability to rapidly understand new technical problem spaces and system architectures.
• Experience guiding developers across multiple languages/frameworks (e.g., Python, C#, .NET).
• Strong understanding of secure software development and assurance.
• Experience with enterprise architecture, CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps practices.
• Knowledge of cloud technologies and containerised environments (specifically RHEL environments running on physical hosts, and with containerised applications).
• Demonstrated ability to shape technical direction and deliver complex systems.

• Exposure to AI/ML development or model-based engineering.
• Experience working in high-assurance, secure environments.
• Multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructure knowledge.

• Self-directed; able to operate with minimal oversight.
• Strong communicator able to interface clearly with engineers and executives.
• Calm under pressure; able to stabilise teams experiencing delivery stress.
• Pragmatic decision-maker able to prioritise delivery over perfection.
• Confident acting as the single point of accountability for technical delivery.

If you are an experienced software engineering leader who thrives in dynamic and high-pressure environments, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to make a significant impact with our client''s pioneering projects in the Defence & Security sector.