Lead Software Engineer

Reports to: Director of Engineering

Department: Engineering

💼 About the role

PQShield is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to help lead a cryptographic software IP team. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be responsible for overseeing the entire software development lifecycle, from design to testing, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions. This includes planning, organizing, and managing the software development, including setting timelines, allocating resources, and tracking progress. You will work across a variety of environments, solving complex problems and developing other engineers, while maintaining a strong focus on quality and best practices. You will support the hiring, training, and managing of a team of software engineers, fostering collaboration, and resolving conflicts.

Candidates should hold a degree in Electronic Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent experience, backed by at least 10 years in software design and/or verification. We are looking for a technical lead—or a senior engineer ready to step up into leadership—to guide our team. Knowledge of cryptographic engineering and side-channel attack resistance is a major bonus. You should be ready to contribute to cross-team strategy, lead architectural reviews, and drive planning for your team.

Founded in 2018, we are a well-funded deep tech startup with proven technology and a clear path to market. Joining us now offers a unique opportunity to work directly with our founders and inventors, fast-track your career progression, and shape a rapidly expanding segment of the semiconductor industry (Post-Quantum Cryptography and RISC-V). This is a great opportunity for career progression and to get a head start in a rapidly expanding segment of the semiconductor industry (Post-Quantum Cryptography and RISC-V).

⚒️ What you’ll be doing

Working with other engineering leaders and project managers to plan and allocate work, ensuring we are delivering on our product roadmap.
You’ll be expected to take on a technical leadership role, and be responsible for coordinating and delivering application and embedded software IP design projects from conception to customer delivery.
Line Management of a software engineering team:
- Identifying hiring needs, conducting interviews, and selecting suitable candidates for open positions.
- Orienting new colleagues, providing necessary training, and ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to succeed.
- Setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, conducting performance reviews, and recognising and rewarding achievements.
- Identifying training and development opportunities to help colleagues grow their skills and advance their careers.
- Addressing under-performance, providing coaching and support, and taking disciplinary action when necessary.
- Fostering positive relationships with team members, resolving conflicts, and promoting a positive work environment
Ensuring the software engineering team has all of the tooling and infrastructure it needs to function well.
Mentoring other colleagues, and being a point of contact for software design expertise within the company.
Working with verification engineers to review verification and test plans.
Define architectural definitions for complex algorithmic and/or system level solutions.
Providing feedback to colleagues on feasibility of implementation and specification quality.
Working closely with other teams and project stakeholders, and acting as an enabler for their development work. E.g. coordinating with hardware engineers or our product vulnerability team.
Engaging with customers, including helping with integration questions, or answering questions during technical sales calls.
Ensuring clean lint and implementation reports for IP blocks and subsystems.

🎯 Required Skills And Qualifications

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Confidence in planning out a project development cycle and coordinating with project managers as development progresses.
A commitment to high quality engineering in all areas of their work, including advocating for the best long-term solutions over the easiest or quickest.
Self-starter with the ability to work with and inspire a team.
Experience building software IP blocks from scratch, and owning the process from initial specification through to customer delivery.
Expert level C experience in an embedded environment.
Able to apply knowledge effectively in unfamiliar situations and actively maintains own knowledge and shares with others.
Rapidly absorbs and critically assesses new information and applies it effectively.
Specifies architectural solutions to technical challenges across multiple technical domains.
Understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and key management systems.

👍 Preferred Skills And Qualifications

Familiarity with PQC standards and protocols (e.g., NIST PQC).
Familiarity with Rust in an Embedded environment.
Previous experience with software/hardware co-designs.
Arm & RISC-V experience.
Knowledge of side-channel security countermeasures.
Confidence using Gitlab CI, or otherwise principles of continuous integration and testing.
Confidence with the Python programming language.
Previous experience managing a cross-functional software team successfully.

🏆 Some of the perks of working with us:

Unparalleled opportunities to learn and accelerated career development.
A collaborative, team environment with people who truly love what they do.
Competitive salary and share option scheme.
Flexible and hybrid working, and a working from home budget.
Private health insurance for yourself and your family.
25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and two wellness weeks).
50% gym membership discount.
The chance to work with a spirited, smart, and friendly team!

PQShield is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We’re passionate about talent and proud to foster an inclusive environment; all applicants will be considered regardless of their gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.