Technical Lead Flight Software; Embedded systems

Lead the code that flies in space.
My client is building spacecraft flight software that runs real missions in real orbit - and they're now looking for a Technical Team Lead to guide the engineers writing it.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You won't be "managing from the sidelines."
You'll design systems, review architecture, mentor engineers and still write mission-critical code that leaves Earth.

You'll own the technical direction, quality and delivery of spacecraft flight software:

• Set technical direction and architecture for embedded flight software systems
• Lead design reviews, code reviews and software standards
• Remain hands-on in C and embedded development
• Drive software quality, testing strategies and CI/CD practices
• Mentor and grow a team of embedded and flight software engineers
• Work closely with hardware, systems and operations teams
• Own technical risk, interface definition and system-level decisions
• Improve engineering workflows, documentation and development processes

You'll be the technical anchor - the person people turn to when the problem is hard, safety-critical or cross-disciplinary.

• Strong C and embedded systems background Java an added bonus
• Experience leading technical design and mentoring engineers
• Deep understanding of real-time systems, multitasking and low-level hardware
• Confident working with microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M class preferred)
• Experience diagnosing and resolving complex system-level faults
• Excellent communication skills - you can explain deep technical decisions clearly
• Ownership mindset and ability to shape engineering culture

• FreeRTOS, RTEMS or other RTOS platforms
• Embedded Linux / Yocto / systemd / Busy Box
• Python, Java or automation scripting
• CI/CD pipelines, Docker, Git Lab or Dev Ops tooling
• Spacecraft, robotics, aerospace, automotive or safety-critical environments

• Your team's code flies in space
• You define architecture, standards and technical direction
• You still build - this is a technical leadership role, not a people-only role
• You shape the engineering culture of a growing space organisation
• You'll work on complete spacecraft, not isolated components

This is your chance to lead the engineers who write software that leaves the planet.