Director of Software Engineering Systems Software

Director of Software Engineering Systems Software Overview

Arm is seeking a senior engineering leader to take charge of a wide-ranging software organization that spans systems software, userspace performance and enablement, and system modelling tools. This is a high-impact position at the point where low-level systems work meets large-scale engineering delivery. The role is designed for someone who can guide a distributed organization, shape technical direction, and help deliver software that improves the performance, efficiency, and scalability of Arm-based platforms.

The position sits within a broader engineering group of more than 300 people and directly leads a globally distributed team of over 60 engineers. The work reaches across kernel behavior, drivers, firmware, and userspace, with the goal of producing practical improvements in real systems. The successful candidate will also collaborate with Arm teams and the wider open-source ecosystem to influence outcomes that matter in production environments.

What you will be responsible for

• Providing leadership and strategic direction for a large engineering organization that covers systems software, userspace performance and enablement, and modelling tools.
• Managing and developing a distributed team of more than 60 engineers, ensuring the group is aligned, motivated, and effective.
• Bringing together priorities across kernel, driver, and userspace teams so work is coordinated and focused on shared objectives.
• Partnering with architecture, hardware, and product stakeholders to deliver solutions that are designed with both software and hardware considerations in mind.
• Creating roadmaps that support both near-term delivery and longer-term technical strategy.
• Helping build stronger leadership capability across the organization and supporting the development of senior engineers into broader leadership roles.
• Influencing across a complex organization to align teams around common goals and deliver meaningful results.
• Remaining close enough to the technology to guide decisions, challenge ideas, and maintain technical credibility with engineers across the stack.

What Arm is looking for

• Experience leading large, distributed software engineering teams at a scale of 60 or more people.
• A strong systems software background with hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas: Linux kernel development, device driver development, or power and performance engineering.
• The ability to connect implementation details at the kernel, driver, and firmware layers to system-level outcomes such as performance, efficiency, and scalability.
• A record of delivering measurable improvements in performance, power usage, or system behavior in live production settings.
• Experience building strong teams and helping senior technical people grow into larger leadership responsibilities.
• The credibility to work closely with engineers across multiple layers of the software stack and influence technical direction.

Additional experience that would be an advantage

• Background in 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 is attractive

This is an opportunity to lead a strategically important part of Arm’s software ecosystem, with influence ranging from low-level kernel behavior to the experience seen by end users in real workloads. The environment values deep technical understanding, collaborative problem-solving, and ambitious thinking. The scope of the role offers the chance to make a measurable difference across technology used at very large scale.

Working arrangement and progression

The role is based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with a hybrid pattern that requires two days per week in the office. Arm also notes that this position has a clear development path toward Senior Director level.

Support during recruitment

Arm says it is committed to making adjustments or accommodations during the hiring process for candidates who need them. Examples include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, and support with office accessibility. Candidates are invited to contact the recruitment team by email to discuss any accommodation needs, and any information shared for that purpose will be handled confidentially and used only to arrange appropriate support.

Hybrid working at Arm

Arm explains that its hybrid approach is intended to support both strong performance and personal wellbeing. The company aims to bring people together in person so they can work at pace, while still preserving flexibility. Teams are given room to shape their own hybrid patterns depending on the needs of the work. Arm also notes that flexibility may sometimes be limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and that it will work with candidates to find the best possible arrangement where needed.

Equal opportunity statement

Arm states that it is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a respectful workplace where opportunities are open to all applicants and employees. The company says it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Pay and rewards

The advertised salary range for this role is £168,300 to £227,700 per year. Arm also highlights a broader rewards package that includes support for health and wellness, work-life balance, financial recognition, and ongoing development and support.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

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