The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer who wants to stay close to complex engineering while helping a talented team achieve more. You’ll combine the technical challenge of developing advanced defence technology with the opportunity to grow people, ensuring that the day to day team output contributes to long-term goals.
Reporting to the Head of Software Engineering, you’ll help keep delivery on track, resolve day-to-day challenges and give engineers the confidence and space to take ownership of their work.
This role would suit a highly driven software engineer with strong people and organisational skills who enjoys developing others, bringing clarity to competing priorities and maintaining momentum in a growing business.
Who We Are
OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.
Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.
We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.
The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.
Security Vetting Information
OpenWorks Engineering operates within the defence sector. As part of our recruitment and onboarding processes, we collect information that may be required to support future security vetting and clearance requirements, should these become necessary during employment.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.
Here’s what our benefits have to offer:
Rewarding Success - Competitive salary, starting from £70,000, plus a discretionary annual bonus of up to 25% of salary alongside a structured pay progression framework.
Enhanced Pension – Up to 8% employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
More Time to Recharge – 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, long-service rewards, and the option to buy up to 5 extra days.
Breakfast & Lunch on Us – Enjoy team breakfasts and freshly prepared lunches every day courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.
Health & Wellbeing – Private healthcare and life assurance for added peace of mind.
Sustainable Travel – Salary sacrifice schemes, including EV car and Cycle to Work options.
Team Socials – Regular events, from quiz nights and football to board games and more.
Learning & Growth – A culture that empowers you to challenge, grow and make an impact, plus a £250 annual learning budget to invest in the development that matters most to you.
What you’ll be doing:
Lead and develop the team: Line manage software engineers, holding regular one-to-ones, setting clear objectives and supporting individual development, progression and accountability.
Enable performance: Provide timely feedback, address routine performance, behaviour, attendance and wellbeing matters, and involve the Head of Software Engineering and People team where appropriate.
Coordinate day-to-day delivery: Turn priorities agreed with the Head into achievable plans, balancing workloads, capability, development needs and available capacity. Keep progress, blockers and delivery risks visible.
Empower engineers to deliver: Help the team maintain focus, make sound decisions and follow through on commitments. Encourage ownership, constructive challenge and direct access to colleagues with the right expertise.
Contribute to the engineering: Provide practical technical guidance, support design and code reviews, and contribute to development and problem-solving where needed, while…