Head of Software Engineering

£90,000 - £110,000

Role: Head of Software Engineering

Salary: £90K - £110K + annual performance bonus

Location: Lancaster, 4 days/week preferred, 2 days/week minimum

Relocation: Relocation package available

Reporting into: Chief Technology Officer

Start: ASAP

About Quantum Base

Quantum Base exists to make quantum science useful. Founded at Lancaster University in 2015 by Professor Robert Young, we have spent a decade solving a problem the security industry had accepted as unsolvable: authentication that is impossible to copy, clone or fake, yet simple enough for anyone to use.

Our core technology, Q-ID®, is an authentication fingerprint built on quantum physics that anyone can authenticate in under three seconds with the smartphone already in their pocket. Impossibly simple. Atomically secure.

Q-ID® is protected by more than 40 patents, has undergone independent adversarial testing, and is already protecting around two billion products worldwide across tax stamps, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, luxury goods, FMCG, automotive, aerospace, secure documents and more. We work with printers and brands to make quantum technology practical and accessible for any product, anywhere in the world.

Quantum Base is headquartered in Lancaster and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: QUBE) in 2025. See Q-ID® in action: https://www.quantumbase.com/how-q-id-works

About the Role

The Head of Software Engineering will be responsible for leading and managing a multidisciplinary engineering team, with a tech stack spanning (in order of importance):

• Machine Learning (neural networks, signal processing, computer vision; Python)
• Advanced algorithm development (Python)
• Cloud platforms (mainly AWS)
• Mobile development (iOS & Android)
• Web App (ASP.Net, JavaScript on Azure)
• Desktop App (Python)

This senior leadership position requires someone who can be hands on and is still in the code day-to-day. You’ll drive technical excellence, foster innovation, encourage continual improvement and deliver high-quality software solutions. Including:

• Strategic Leadership
  • Drive the simplification and consolidation of our platform, models and algorithms so the business can scale without proportional engineering growth
  • Define the technical vision and strategy for software development in alignment with business objectives.
  • Oversee the development and deployment of scalable, high-performing applications and platforms.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the engineering team.
• Team Management
  • Manage, mentor, and inspire a team that includes engineers, machine learning specialists, mathematicians and physicists.
  • Support talent acquisition, retention, and development to ensure a high-performing team.
• Technical Oversight
  • Provide hands-on technical guidance for complex software development projects, specifically with the application of machine learning and advanced algorithms.
  • Ensure best practices in software development, including code quality, testing, and documentation.
  • Collaborate with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to define technical requirements and ensure successful delivery.

Key experience

• Proven experience (8+ years) in software engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Strong quantitative background (physics, mathematics or a closely related discipline)
• Expertise across our technology stack.
• Strong engineering fundamentals (testing, design, code quality)
• Strong understanding of software development methodologies, including Agile and DevOps practices.

Benefits

Some of our benefits include:

• 30 days annual leave, plus public holidays.
• Flexible working hours.
• Hybrid working.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Pension.
• Annual bonus.
• Participation in the company share scheme.

This is a rare chance to lead software engineering at a company where the hardest problems are physics and mathematics, not process. If you want to build on that kind of foundation, we want to hear from you.