As the Lead Software Engineer (Maritime), you will take full ownership of STARK’s maritime software capability. This is a pivotal "player-coach" role: you will lead the overall maritime software development strategy while remaining deeply hands-on in the code.

Your primary mission is to build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of engineers to integrate autonomous sea systems into the Minerva front-line platform. You will architect modern C++ solutions that bridge the gap between front-line control and edge computing, ensuring our fleet remains reliable, precise, and mission-ready in unpredictable environments.

• Team Leadership & Growth: Actively lead and build the maritime software engineering team. You will be responsible for hiring, mentoring, and developing talent to expand our maritime footprint.

• Technical Ownership: Lead the overall software design, development, and integration for maritime systems within the Minerva ecosystem.

• Hands-on Development: Design and implement core C++ architecture for autonomy, control, and communication subsystems.

• Engineering Excellence: Establish technical foundations, define interfaces, and enforce modern C++ standards through rigorous code reviews and best practices.

• System Integration: Collaborate closely with hardware and systems engineers to ensure software performs flawlessly on physical autonomous platforms.

• Delivery Pipelines: Build and manage robust software delivery pipelines for maritime applications, spanning from edge devices to front-line interfaces.

• Mission Readiness: Define quality benchmarks to ensure all maritime systems are cohesive, resilient, and ready for deployment in harshest sea states.

• Expert C++ Developer: Extensive hands-on experience in modern C++ with a "lead by example" approach to coding.

• Proven Leadership: Experience leading technical teams or a strong desire to transition into a formal leadership role while staying hands-on.

• System Architect: A deep understanding of software architecture, integration, and high-level system design.

• Domain Expertise: Background in real-time, embedded, or safety-critical systems (e.g., Automotive, Aerospace, or Defence).

• Autonomous Systems: Familiarity with autonomous control systems, such as autopilots, guidance algorithms, or vehicle dynamics.

• Hardware Interface: Practical experience working with physical hardware, sensors, and complex data communication systems.

• Security: Must be security-cleared or eligible to obtain UK/EU defence-level clearance.