Engineering Project Lead, Embedded Software

Role: Programme Lead – Embedded Software & Systems Engineering Location: Horsham Duration: Initial 6 months Rate: Up to £525 per day, outside IR35 Working Arrangements: Onsite 3 days per week Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Engineering Project Lead with a strong background in embedded software, firmware, systems engineering, and manufacturing to coordinate engineering delivery across a complex multi year product development programme. You will lead multidisciplinary teams across software, systems integration and test, ensuring delivery against programme milestones from design and development through to manufacturing, production readiness, and qualification. Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams across embedded software, firmware, electronics, systems, and test.
• Manage engineering plans, work packages, resources, schedules, and delivery milestones.
• Coordinate hardware/software integration, verification, validation, and qualification.
• Work with manufacturing teams on production readiness, design transfer, and product introduction.
• Manage technical risks, dependencies, requirements traceability, and configuration control.
• Report engineering progress, risks, and issues to programme leadership.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, quality processes, and programme governance. Essential Experience
• Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading engineering delivery in defence, aerospace, or complex electronic product development.
• Strong understanding of embedded software, firmware, and hardware/software integration.
• Experience across systems engineering, verification, validation, and the product lifecycle.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, production readiness, and engineering delivery planning.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS, Polarion, or Jama.
• Automotive or manufacturing sector experience Desirable
• INCOSE ASEP/CSEP or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
• APM PMQ, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management qualification. We cannot provide spnoosrship. Please send across an updated CV if you are intersted.