Job Description
Job Title: Lead Software Engineer
Location: Warton, Hybrid, 3 to 4 days per week on site
Salary: £59,491+ depending on experience
You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your Line Manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.
We know there may be exceptional individual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your Line Manager.
If you don’t feel you can talk to your Line Manager, you can contact your HRBP.
PLEASE NOTE: Should you be invited for interview; you acknowledge that the Recruitment team will contact you and your Line Manager regarding your application for this opportunity.
Who we are:
Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.
From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.
Job Description:
As a Lead Software Engineer within the TLS Foundation Team, you’ll play a key role in establishing and developing software delivery capability across the FCAS/GCAP programme. You’ll support the formation of software teams, helping to shape organisational frameworks, processes and tools that enable effective software delivery.
Working across a complex stakeholder environment, you’ll be responsible for guiding software development activities from concept through to delivery while building collaborative relationships across engineering, programme and customer communities. You will also present programme updates, technical information and recommendations to senior stakeholders, helping to support informed decision-making throughout the software development lifecycle.
Core duties:
- Support early software team formation, including the development of organisational frameworks, processes and tools that enable effective software delivery
- Lead software teams through planning, delivery and reporting activities, ensuring progress is communicated to key stakeholders
- Design, develop and test TLS software solutions based on system requirements and models
- Present programme updates, technical information, risks and recommendations to senior stakeholders
- Collaborate with integration teams and wider engineering stakeholders to support successful software delivery
Essential Skills:
- Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, coding, testing and delivery
- Experience developing software using languages such as C, C++, Java, Rust or similar
- Experience leading software engineering teams
- Experience working with and presenting to senior stakeholders
The TLS Foundation team:
The TLS Foundation Team is responsible for establishing and developing software capability across the Through Life Services (TLS) area of the FCAS/GCAP programme. Working as part of a major national and international collaborative programme, the team supports the development, integration and delivery of software solutions that will underpin next-generation defence capability.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of future aerospace and defence technologies while collaborating with engineering teams across the wider TLS and Software business. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of systems, including safety and security-related solutions, within a complex and innovative environment.
Why BAE Systems?
Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.
A place where everyone can thrive:
We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 22nd September 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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We protect what matters.
We’re a skilled, collaborative, and increasingly diverse community of around 100,000 people in over 40 countries, creating some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace, marine, land, and security solutions.
At our core is an overarching purpose – we play our part in protecting those who protect us, making the future more secure for everyone. Those who connect with our purpose feel pride in being part of something bigger; motivated by their ability to make a difference by creating bold, pioneering products and services that can change the world we live in.
To do this, we must always look to the future to find new ways and new ideas to advance – whilst putting our people front and centre. Championing better ways of doing things, striving for excellence in everything we do, being more efficient and sustainable.
We have a 40+ year heritage of working in data and security. Since 2000, we have expanded rapidly through the digital revolution, working in multiple industries and building our portfolio of cutting edge solutions. Our new company, Digital Intelligence, launched at the beginning of 2022 bringing together digital capabilities from across the BAE Systems Group.
To secure our ambitious future, we are committed to investing in our people, with the tools, support and inclusive environment for you to embrace a fulfilling career. Life at BAE Systems is always dynamic and challenging, with immense opportunity, and lifelong development available to all.
Whether you’re an experienced professional or just stepping out into the world of work, we’ve a wide range of career opportunities available. Whether it's engineering or technology, project management or manufacturing, you'll be helping our customers protect what really matters.
- Opportunities -
Working at BAE Systems brings immense opportunity. A long and fulfilling career, with first-class training and lifelong development available to all, with all the support to help make it happen.
The scale at which we operate generates endless opportunities to work across diverse roles, specialisms, cultures and countries. Achieving our growth ambitions needs everyone to own their role and find their unique place. This is a place to be curious, build your network, feel empowered and motivated by your team, sharing in our purpose to protect what matters and create a safer future.
As many of our team can demonstrate, it’s possible to have multiple careers throughout your time here. There’s always the opportunity to retrain or reskill, whether through a formal programme or exploring our on demand virtual learning platform where you can explore tailored resources aligned to each of our functions.
- Learning beyond your role -
We provide the opportunity to get involved in projects outside of your primary remit. We encourage you to seek a stretch project in which you’ll gain different experiences. With our huge portfolio of products and our multinational presence, there are opportunities to get involved in something different around every corner. Additionally, we encourage involvement in community projects, STEM initiatives and our employee resource groups, which all provide valuable learning and development experiences that you may not have access to in your day-to-day role.
- Learning and resources -
Lifelong learning is a reality at BAE Systems, and we’re proud to be a diverse, inclusive, and supportive employer, helping everyone build a career to be proud of, delivering our purpose of protecting those that protect us all.
Our resources are accessible at any time and from any device and consider inclusive learning styles by offering these through a variety of platforms such as videos, books, guides and structured virtual learning programmes through our digital learning plaform, Spark.