Head of Software Engineering
Spaceflux
Software Engineering
London, UK
Head of Software Engineering
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
Company: Spaceflux Ltd
Reports to: Chief Product Officer
About Spaceflux
Spaceflux delivers sovereign-grade optical space intelligence through a global network of optical and SWIR-enabled sensors and an AI-powered cloud platform. We provide real-time tracking, characterisation, and analytics from LEO to GEO, supporting government and commercial missions with actionable intelligence in seconds. We also deliver tailored sensor system packages, specialist services, and domain intelligence consultancy.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a Head of Software Engineering to own the technical architecture and delivery of the Spaceflux platform. You’ll work directly with the CPO and CTO to translate a demanding product roadmap into well-designed, scalable software. You’ll lead and grow our 10-person engineering team who build and operate it.
This is an architecture-led leadership role. You’ll own system design, define technical standards, make hard calls on trade-offs, and unblock your team. You won’t be managing from a distance.
The platform is cloud-native, data-intensive, and operationally critical. We process observations from sensors on five continents, run AI/ML pipelines at the edge and in the cloud, and serve government customers who have no tolerance for downtime.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the technical evolution of the Cortex platform over the coming years, working closely with the CPO and CTO on architecture direction and roadmap planning.
- Build a new UK software team for Spaceflux, working alongside our current remote team
- Own engineering delivery: sprint cadence, quality, velocity, and the relationship between product requirements and technical reality. Working with our Systems Engineer and delivery team.
- Drive platform stability and scalability as the sensor network expands to 25+ sites and customer demand grows.
- Lead on engineering security practices, particularly in the context of UK Government and defence data handling.
- Work with Ops to improve observability, incident response, and the reliability of a 24/7 operational system.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Strong full-stack background: comfortable with cloud infrastructure. Proven experience leading engineering teams shipping production software in complex, data-intensive domains, with strong ownership of system architecture and design.
- Prior experience managing remote or contracted engineering teams.
- Experience in systems where reliability and data integrity genuinely matter: defence, aerospace, finance, or similar.
- Track record of working closely with product and leadership to balance pace with quality.
- Clear communicator who can operate at architecture level and pull request level in the same week.
- Experience with agentic engineering tools and AI-assisted dev workflows. We use these daily and expect our leaders to drive their effective adoption.
- Eligible for UK security clearance (SC and UK eyes only). This role involves working on UK Official Sensitive programmes.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience with satellite systems, telescope control, or space domain awareness.
- Familiarity with edge computing and distributed sensor networks.
Other Requirements
- Able to commute to central London approximately twice a week, with occasional additional travel for customer or partner needs.
- Able to travel within the UK and occasionally internationally to collaborate with the wider Spaceflux team, meet customers, and attend technical events.
- Able to maintain access to a reliable broadband connection.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV along with a cover letter explaining your interest in the role and relevant experience. We welcome applications from candidates with non-traditional backgrounds who can demonstrate the required technical capabilities.
Spaceflux Ltd is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.