18 lead software engineer jobs found in Bristol

Lead Software Engineer — Mission‑Critical Delivery (Defence & Security) Contract | Bristol (Hybrid) | Outside IR35 | High‑priority programme Build software that actually matters. We’re delivering secure, high‑integrity platforms used across Defence & Security—systems where reliability, correctness and speed of delivery are non‑negotiable. If you’re a hands‑on leader who can turn complexity into shippable software and align multi‑disciplinary teams behind a clear plan, this is your arena. Why this role is different Real authority: You’ll own end‑to‑end technical delivery across multiple workstreams—not just “influence” it. High‑impact environment: What you build gets deployed and relied on , not shelved. Hands‑on leadership: Lead by example in code, pipelines, and architecture— engineering first , PowerPoint second. Calm in the storm: When the situation’s ambiguous or time‑critical, you set direction and move the needle . Hybrid working:...

Lead Software Engineer Rate: £600 a day IR 35 Determination: Outside IR35 Location: Bristol Working Pattern: 20% onsite Clearance: SC Clearance required Overview: Technical Leadership, Operational and People Management, Technical direction of complex projects A global defence technology consultancy ole are looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer to provide hands‑on leadership across a high‑priority software delivery programme. This is a senior contractor role requiring a self‑starter who can quickly understand a complex problem domain, translate requirements into actionable deliverables, and drive engineering teams to successful outcomes. You will act as the technical and delivery focal point for multiple workstreams, ensuring work is sequenced, risks are managed, progress is unblocked, and the programme maintains momentum. This role blends technical leadership, delivery ownership, and stakeholder management, and is ideal for someone with a...

Lead Software Engineer Rate: £600 a day IR 35 Determination: Outside IR35 Location: Bristol Working Pattern: 20% onsite Clearance: SC Clearance required Overview: Technical Leadership, Operational and People Management, Technical direction of complex projects A global defence technology consultancy OLE are looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer to provide hands-on leadership across a high-priority software delivery programme. This is a senior contractor role requiring a self-starter who can quickly understand a complex problem domain, translate requirements into actionable deliverables, and drive engineering teams to successful outcomes. You will act as the technical and delivery focal point for multiple workstreams, ensuring work is sequenced, risks are managed, progress is unblocked, and the programme maintains momentum. This role blends technical leadership, delivery ownership, and stakeholder management, and is ideal for someone with a...

Lead Software Engineer 6 month contract Based in Bristol Offering £80ph Outside IR35   Do you have experience in AI/ML development or model-based engineering? Do you have experience in Python, C#, or .NET? Do you want to work with an industry-leading company?   If your answer to these is yes, then this could be the role for you!   As the Lead Software Engineer, you will be working alongside a market-leading Defence and Aerospace company who are constantly growing and developing. They are always looking to bring on new talents such as yourself and further develop your skills to enable you to grow within the company and industry. Do you the nature of the work you will be involved in, you will be required to go through MOD SC clearance.   You will be involved in: Own end-to-end technical delivery across the programme Make time-critical delivery decisions in the absence of programme leadership...

Lead Software Engineer 6 month contract Based in Bristol Offering £80ph Outside IR35 Do you have experience in AI/ML development or model-based engineering? Do you have experience in Python, C#, or .NET? Do you want to work with an industry-leading company? If your answer to these is yes, then this could be the role for you! As the Lead Software Engineer, you will be working alongside a market-leading Defence and Aerospace company who are constantly growing and developing. They are always looking to bring on new talents such as yourself and further develop your skills to enable you to grow within the company and industry. Do you the nature of the work you will be involved in, you will be required to go through MOD SC clearance. You will be involved in: Own end-to-end technical delivery across the programme Make time-critical delivery decisions in the absence of programme leadership Break down high-level requirements into structured deliverables...

Lead Software Engineer Rate: £600 a day IR 35 Determination: Outside IR35 Location: Southampton Working Pattern: 20% onsite Clearance: SC Clearance required Overview: Technical Leadership, Operational and People Management, Technical direction of complex projects A global defence technology consultancy are looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer to provide hands-on leadership across a high-priority software delivery programme. This is a senior contractor role requiring a self-starter who can quickly understand a complex problem domain, translate requirements into actionable deliverables, and drive engineering teams to successful outcomes. You will act as the technical and delivery focal point for multiple workstreams, ensuring work is sequenced, risks are managed, progress is unblocked, and the programme maintains momentum. This role blends technical leadership, delivery ownership, and stakeholder management, and is ideal for someone with a...

Lead Software Engineer Hybrid remote working SC Eligibility is essential (SC clearance would be desirable) Up to £78 p/h Outside IR35 A Leading Defence prime with offices around the U.K are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to provide hands-on leadership across a high-priority software delivery programme. This is a senior contract role suited to a self-starter who can quickly understand complex problem domains, translate requirements into actionable delivery plans, and drive engineering teams to successful outcomes. You will act as the technical and delivery focal point across multiple workstreams, ensuring work is properly sequenced, risks are actively managed, blockers are removed, and the programme maintains momentum. This opportunity combines technical leadership, delivery ownership, and stakeholder engagement, making it ideal for someone who has successfully led engineering teams in fast-moving, high-pressure environments. Essential Skills...

Location: Bristol (20% onsite) Duration: 6 month contract Rate: £81.75ph LTD (Outside IR35) Role details: Our client, a prominent entity in the Defence & Security sector, is currently seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer to provide hands-on leadership across a high-priority software delivery programme. Based in Bristol, this contract role requires a self-starter who can swiftly comprehend complex problem domains, translate requirements into actionable deliverables, and drive engineering teams to successful outcomes. Key Responsibilities: Delivery & Execution Own end-to-end technical delivery across the programme. Make time-critical delivery decisions in the absence of programme leadership. Break down high-level requirements into structured deliverables for engineering teams. Sequence work, set priorities, and maintain delivery plans. Act as escalation point for blockers, risks, and technical issues. Drive tangible progress across multiple...

Software Engineer — Secure, Mission‑Critical Systems Defence & Security Programme | Bristol (Hybrid) Contract | Outside IR35 Build Software That’s Actually Used — and Actually Matters This role isn’t about vanity features, throwaway prototypes, or code that never leaves a demo environment. We’re building secure, high‑integrity software systems used across Defence & Security programmes — platforms where quality, reliability, and correctness genuinely matter . If you’re a Software Engineer who wants to: Work on real production systems Learn from strong technical leadership Build software the right way in a high‑trust environment …then this project will stretch and reward you. What You’ll Be Working On As part of a multidisciplinary delivery team, you’ll be hands‑on in designing, building, and improving software that supports mission‑critical operations . You’ll: Design and develop high‑quality software components within a...

Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Outside IR35) | 6‑Month Contract 📍 Bristol (Hybrid – ~20% onsite) Build Machine Learning that Actually Matters This isn’t another recommender system. This isn’t ad‑tech. And it definitely isn’t “just moving notebooks into production”. We’re looking for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to help design, build, and deploy mission‑critical ML systems used across defence, security, and high‑integrity public sector programmes . You’ll be working on problems where correctness, robustness, and trust matter as much as raw performance — and where your work has real‑world impact at national scale . 🔥 Why This Role Is Different Real ML engineering : production systems, not demos Work on secure, high‑integrity platforms where ML decisions matter Influence architecture , not just implementation Join a team that treats ML as software engineering , not science experiments Hybrid working with minimal onsite...

Network Engineer Cardiff On-site 18 Months £400 to £450 Outside IR35 Your new company A large organisation based in South Wales. Your new role The role focusses on deploying Fortinet infrastructure, including Fortigate firewalls, Fortiswitches, and FortiManager. You will lead the network deployment, ensure alignment across business teams, and build strong internal relationships to provide a smooth handover once the implementation is complete. Key Responsibilities Creating Implementation plans using the LLD provided, planning, and installing local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN) Implementing firewalls, switches, taps and centralised mgmt. As required on 2 new sites Testing new implementations and monitoring network performance, analysing data, and performing updates as required to ensure the best possible delivery. Following the successful build of 2 new DC's, there will be a migration exercise out of the existing DC. Review and apply...

Network Engineer Cardiff On-site 18 Months £400 to £450 Outside IR35 Your new company A large organisation based in South Wales. Your new role The role focusses on deploying Fortinet infrastructure, including Fortigate firewalls, Fortiswitches, and FortiManager. You will lead the network deployment, ensure alignment across business teams, and build strong internal relationships to provide a smooth handover once the implementation is complete. Key Responsibilities Creating Implementation plans using the LLD provided, planning, and installing local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN) Implementing firewalls, switches, taps and centralised mgmt. As required on 2 new sites Testing new implementations and monitoring network performance, analysing data, and performing updates as required to ensure the best possible delivery. Following the successful build of 2 new DC's, there will be a migration exercise out of the existing DC. Review and apply...

Network Engineer Cardiff On-site 18 Months £400 to £450 Outside IR35 Your new company A large organisation based in South Wales. Your new role The role focusses on deploying Fortinet infrastructure, including Fortigate Firewalls, Fortiswitches, and FortiManager. You will lead the network deployment, ensure alignment across business teams, and build strong internal relationships to provide a smooth handover once the implementation is complete. Key Responsibilities Creating Implementation plans using the LLD provided, planning, and installing local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN) Implementing Firewalls, Switches, taps and centralised mgmt. As required on 2 new sites Testing new implementations and monitoring network performance, analysing data, and performing updates as required to ensure the best possible delivery. Following the successful build of 2 new DC's, there will be a migration exercise out of the existing DC. Review and apply...

UKIC DV Cleared Java Developer | Outside IR35 We are working with a specialist consultancy supporting highly sensitive national security programmes. They are looking for a Java Developer with active UKIC clearance to join a secure programme delivering critical software capabilities within the UK intelligence environment. This role would suit a developer who is comfortable operating in secure, mission-critical environments and enjoys working on complex Back End systems that underpin high-impact government services. The Role You will join an established engineering team responsible for building and maintaining secure Back End services. Working in an agile environment, you will contribute to the design, development and improvement of scalable Java-based systems that support complex operational requirements. The work will involve collaborating with engineers, architects and stakeholders to deliver robust, secure and well-tested solutions within a highly regulated environment....

Contract Tech Lead £800pd - outside IR35 2 days per week, Hampshire We need an urgent contract Tech Lead for 6 months for a long standing banking client of mine. Someone with solid Vendor Management experience, who is hands on (not day to day coding) but can roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the change the business is goign through over the next 12 months. They are growing fast, hit profitability this year and we need a people and technology leader to lean in an support the tech teams and technical challenges around new and existing suppliers. This isn't just a delivery role. It's about people, purpose and progress. You'll coach and mentor a team of around five engineers, creating an environment where people feel supported to grow, challenge ideas and do their best work. You'll champion engineering best practice, encourage curiosity, and help embed a culture that's collaborative, commercially aware and outcome-focused. Working closely with product, design and third-party...

Contract Tech Lead £800pd - outside IR35 2 days per week, Hampshire We need an urgent contract Tech Lead for 6 months for a long standing banking client of mine. Someone with solid Vendor Management experience, who is hands on (not day to day coding) but can roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the change the business is goign through over the next 12 months. They are growing fast, hit profitability this year and we need a people and technology leader to lean in an support the tech teams and technical challenges around new and existing suppliers. This isn 't just a delivery role. It 's about people, purpose and progress. You 'll coach and mentor a team of around five engineers, creating an environment where people feel supported to grow, challenge ideas and do their best work. You 'll champion engineering best practice, encourage curiosity, and help embed a culture that 's collaborative, commercially aware and outcome-focused. Working closely with product,...

💻 Engineering Lead / Tech Lead (Back End / Golang / Go) 📍 Hybrid (Reading 1 day per week) ⚽ SportsTech 📃 Outside IR35 / 3 months rolling 💵 £500 - £700 per day Albany Growth are partnered with a sports brand entering a major phase of digital transformation following private equity investment. They’re building a connected platform that combines hardware, computer vision and cloud software to power gameplay, real time analytics and enhanced player experiences. They’re now hiring a hands-on Engineering Manager / Tech Lead / Engineering Lead to take ownership of the backend platform while leading a small team of engineers (5/6 of them). This is a key hire working closely with senior leadership and the CPO, helping shape both technical direction and product evolution as the platform scales. What you’ll be doing: 👉🏼 Leading and mentoring a small engineering team (5–6 engineers) 👉🏼 Designing and building backend services using Go 👉🏼 Owning and...

Test Engineer 📍 Birmingham (2 days per week onsite) 💰 Day rate DOE | Outside IR35 ⏳ 3-month initial contract (likely extension) We’re supporting an engineering-led software business looking for a Test Engineer contractor to provide short-term support across a suite of enterprise systems. You’ll join a cross-functional agile team, with a strong focus on automation, quality, and early feedback. They’re looking for someone with a broader, cross-stack mindset — not just pure QA, but comfortable getting closer to the code where needed. What you’ll be doing: Designing and executing tests across complex enterprise applications Driving automation-first testing across UI, API, and data layers Building and maintaining automated test suites Performing exploratory and functional testing Writing SQL queries to validate data and backend processes Supporting CI/CD pipelines and release cycles Collaborating closely with engineers, product, and stakeholders Tech...