Director of Software Engineering - Defence / Search & Rescue – Up to 85K + Possibility for profit share / share options – Lincolnshire

We are looking for a highly motivated Director of Software Engineering or Head of Software Development to join an award winning Defence and Search & Rescue organisation with offices just outside of Lincoln. The key leadership role in guiding the engineering team and ensuring the successful delivery of software products. The technical team is expanding with recent additions across the group including Lead Engineers, Software Developers and Testers.

The position could suit an experienced CTO/ Director or an individual looking to make the move from Software Development Manager, Head of Software or similar.

This role is responsible for driving the technical direction, team growth, and execution of software initiatives that support our business goals. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

We are ideally looking for someone who can primarily be office based, with flexibility for home working when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineering leads, developers, and technical staff.
• Define team structure, hire top talent, and drive professional growth and development.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
• Define and execute a forward‑looking software architecture and technology strategy.
• Guide design and implementation of scalable, secure, and high‑performing systems.
• Oversee technical quality through code reviews, testing standards, and documentation.
• Own end‑to‑end software development lifecycle, ensuring timely and high‑quality delivery.
• Set engineering OKRs, monitor progress, and continuously improve delivery processes.
• Partner closely with Product, Design, QA, Operations, and Business stakeholders.
• Translate business requirements into technical solutions and resource plans.
• Serve as the technical voice in executive discussions and strategic planning.
• Ensure all systems and software meet internal standards and external compliance requirements.
• Oversee incident response, vulnerability management, and disaster recovery plans.

As a visionary and strategic technology leader, the Director of Software Engineering is responsible for shaping and executing the software development strategy that drives business growth and innovation. With a deep understanding of scalable architecture, modern engineering practices, and agile delivery, this role ensures the successful development, deployment, and maintenance of high‑quality software products. The director leads by example, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across engineering teams.

Due to the nature of the position it's required for the Director of Software Engineering to be a UK National for government security vetting. This includes a minimum of 5 years consecutive UK residency.

We are interviewing currently so apply now for immediate consideration for the Director of Software Engineering position or contact George Harvey at ITSS Recruitment for further information.