About this role
Salary: £40,000 - 80,000 per year
Requirements: Extensive hands-on experience in modern C++ with a lead-by-example approach to coding.Experience leading technical teams, or a strong desire to transition into a formal leadership role while staying hands-on.Deep understanding of software architecture, integration, and high-level system design.Background in real-time, embedded, or safety-critical systems such as automotive, aerospace, or defence.Familiarity with autonomous control systems, such as autopilots, guidance algorithms, or vehicle dynamics.Practical experience working with physical hardware, sensors, and complex data communication systems.Must be security-cleared or eligible to obtain UK/EU defence-level clearance. Responsibilities: Actively lead and build our maritime software engineering team.Hire, mentor, and develop talent to expand our maritime footprint.Lead the overall software design, development, and integration for maritime systems within the Minerva ecosystem.Design and implement core C++ architecture for autonomy, control, and communication subsystems.Establish technical foundations, define interfaces, and enforce modern C++ standards through rigorous code reviews and best practices.Collaborate closely with hardware and systems engineers to ensure software performs reliably on physical autonomous platforms.Build and manage robust software delivery pipelines for maritime applications, spanning from edge devices to front-line interfaces.Define quality benchmarks to ensure all maritime systems are cohesive, resilient, and ready for deployment in harsh sea states.Take full ownership of our maritime software capability while remaining deeply hands-on in the code.Lead the overall maritime software development strategy as a player-coach. Technologies: AIEmbeddedHardwareSecurityArchitectC++ More:
We are STARK, a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the deployment of autonomous systems across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective, giving operators a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We are extending our expertise into the maritime domain with AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels built for reliable performance in the harshest seas, delivering a fully integrated hardware-software capability for scalable ISR and strike operations. We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, and candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance for this role.
last updated 40 week of 2026