Lead Software Engineer - Automotive & Electrical Drive systems

Lead Software Engineer - Electrical drive systems
Location: Norwich
Permanent | Hybrid / 3-4 days onsite per week
ARCA Resourcing is proud to partner with an innovative high-tech scale-up at the forefront of next-generation electric drive systems for automotive and mobility applications.
This is a key leadership opportunity for an experienced Lead Software Engineer to take ownership of embedded software development across complex electric drive systems, shaping both technical direction and team delivery. You will play a pivotal role in defining architecture, driving software quality, and leading engineering activity across the full development lifecycle.
Working at the heart of a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you will guide a talented software team while collaborating closely with systems, hardware, controls, and validation engineers to deliver robust, high-performance automotive solutions.
The Opportunity
You will lead the design and development of embedded software spanning base software, application layers, motor control, power electronics control, charging systems, diagnostics, and real-time vehicle functions.
This role combines hands-on technical leadership with team management and delivery ownership, ensuring software is designed, built, integrated, and validated to the highest standards in a safety-critical automotive environment.
A strong focus is placed on structured development processes, ASPICE-aligned delivery, and continuous improvement across tools, workflows, and engineering practices.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the design and development of embedded software for electric drive systems, including BSW, application software, motor control, charging, DC-DC control, diagnostics, and system functions
* Define and maintain software architecture aligned with system and product requirements
* Lead, organise, and mentor software engineers, promoting best practice in development, planning, and documentation
* Define software tools, methods, and processes, and lead key technical decisions aligned with ASPICE principles
* Oversee the full software lifecycle from requirements through implementation, verification, validation, and release
* Drive delivery of software milestones through effective planning, tracking, documentation, and change control
* Develop and review high-quality embedded software using model-based development, auto-code generation, and C/C++ as appropriate
* Support control algorithm development and ensure software meets performance, safety, and reliability targets
* Lead software integration with embedded hardware platforms and system architectures
* Collaborate with systems, hardware, and test teams to define requirements, interfaces, and integration strategies
* Support validation activities including bench testing, HIL, dynamometer testing, and system verification
* Lead root cause analysis, system debugging, and corrective action implementation
* Define and oversee software verification and validation strategies, ensuring full traceability across requirements, code, and test
* Lead software reviews and ensure compliance with coding standards, quality processes, and development guidelines
* Manage day-to-day software team activity, supporting technical development and delivery performance
* Drive continuous improvement across software processes, tools, CI/CD, testing, configuration management, and documentation
* Support compliance with relevant industry standards including ISO 26262, ASPICE, and MISRA C
* Contribute to future product concepts and system strategy for electric drive technologies
Key Skills & Experience
* Strong background in embedded software development for automotive or electric drive systems
* Experience with motor control, inverter control, DC-DC systems, diagnostics, and real-time embedded software
* Proven ability to lead and mentor software engineering teams in a delivery-focused environment
* Strong understanding of software architecture and hardware/software integration
* Experience across the full software lifecycle: requirements, design, implementation, verification, validation, and release
* Hands-on experience with software testing strategies including unit, integration, HIL, and system-level testing
* Strong planning, organisation, documentation, and delivery management capability
* Working knowledge of ISO 26262, ASPICE, MISRA C, and functional safety principles
* Strong collaboration skills across multi-disciplinary engineering teams
* Excellent problem-solving ability with a balance of performance, robustness, and maintainability
Why Apply?
This is a high-impact leadership role where you will shape both the software architecture and the engineering capability behind next-generation electric drive systems. You will have real influence over technical direction, team growth, and product delivery in a fast-moving, innovation-driven environment