Director of Software Engineering Systems Software

Director of Software Engineering Systems Software Overview

Arm is seeking a senior software engineering leader to take charge of a broad organisation spanning systems software, userspace performance and enablement, and system modelling tools. This is a high-impact leadership position at the point where low-level software engineering meets large-scale delivery. The role is responsible for guiding a distributed group of more than 60 engineers, within a wider organisation of over 300, and for helping shape software that has a direct effect on the performance, efficiency, and scalability of Arm-based platforms.

The successful candidate will bring together expertise across kernel work, drivers, firmware, and userspace so that the organisation can deliver practical improvements in real systems. The role also involves close collaboration across Arm and with the wider open-source ecosystem, ensuring that technical direction is aligned across multiple teams and domains.

What you will be responsible for

• Providing direction for a large engineering organisation that covers systems software, userspace performance and enablement, and system modelling tools.
• Leading and developing a globally distributed team of more than 60 engineers.
• Making sure priorities are aligned across kernel, driver, and userspace groups.
• Working with architecture, hardware, and product teams to deliver solutions that are co-designed across software and hardware.
• Creating roadmaps that balance short-term delivery with longer-term strategic goals.
• Strengthening leadership capability across the organisation and helping senior engineers grow further.
• Influencing across a complex business so that teams can unite around shared goals and deliver together.

What Arm is looking for

• Substantial experience leading large, distributed software engineering teams, ideally at a scale of 60 or more people.
• A strong systems software background with practical experience in one or more of the following: Linux kernel development, device driver development, or power and performance engineering.
• Hands-on understanding of low-level implementation areas such as kernel, drivers, and firmware, together with the ability to connect that work to system-level performance, efficiency, and scalability.
• A record of delivering measurable improvements in performance, power, or system behaviour in production environments.
• Experience building strong teams and developing senior technical leaders.
• The ability to engage credibly with engineers across the stack and influence technical direction through deep technical understanding.

Desirable experience

• Experience with media, graphics, or multimedia subsystems.
• Exposure to Android or userspace performance work.
• Familiarity with Arm architecture or with hardware/software co-design.
• Experience contributing to or working with open-source communities.

Why this role stands out

This position offers the chance to lead a strategically important part of Arm’s software ecosystem, with influence that reaches from kernel-level behaviour to the performance experienced by end users in real workloads. The environment values deep technical knowledge, collaborative problem-solving, and ambitious thinking, and the scope of the role gives the right person the opportunity to make a measurable impact across billions of devices.

Working arrangement and progression

The role is hybrid, with two days each week spent in Arm’s Cambridge office. Arm also notes that there is a clear path for progression toward Senior Director level.

Salary and rewards

The advertised salary range is £168,300 to £227,700 per year. Arm also highlights its broader rewards and benefits approach, which includes support for health and wellbeing, work-life balance, financial recognition, and ongoing development and support.

Recruitment support and accessibility

Arm says it is committed to building outstanding teams and will provide reasonable adjustments or accommodations during the hiring process where needed. Examples of support mentioned include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, and help with office accessibility. Candidates who need assistance are encouraged to contact the recruitment team by email.

Equal opportunity statement

Arm states that it is an equal opportunity employer and aims to provide a respectful environment with equal opportunities for applicants and employees. The company says it does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Additional notes

The posting is for a software engineering leadership role based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and is listed under the Software Engineering category. The page also indicates that applicants can apply directly through Arm’s careers site.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

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