---
title: 'Director of Software Engineering at PQShield'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-software-engineering-pqshield-united-kingdom-germany-france-belgium-9q9zn163gm4c'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Director of Software Engineering at PQShield

- **Company:** PQShield
- **Location:** United Kingdom / Germany / France / Belgium / Austria / Netherlands / Spain
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-09-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://pqshield.com/careers/apply/4989532101?gh_jid=4989532101

## Job description

Director of Software Engineering

Reports to: Chief Technology Officer

Department: Engineering

Please note we can hire you in the following locations; UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, and Finland

If you are not based in one of these countries then we are unable to move forward with your application.

💼 About the role

PQShield is looking for a Director of Software Engineering to lead the development of next-generation software products and architectures tailored for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

In this leadership role, you will oversee the design, development, and optimisation of software solutions that secure and accelerate PQC algorithms, providing scalable and efficient cryptographic IP for software libraries and secure communication protocols.

As part of the Engineering leadership team, you will work closely with cross-functional groups, including cryptographers, hardware engineers, product managers, and external partners, to bring innovative PQC software solutions to market.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software development, cryptography, and secure product development, with a focus on delivering secure, high-performance, and efficient products.

We have been established since 2018, so you would be directly working with the founders and inventors of this deep tech startup. The technology is already a couple of years in the making, its feasibility having been established, funding secured, and it has a clear path to market. This is a great opportunity for career progression and to get a head start in a rapidly expanding segment of the technology industry.

⚒️ What you’ll be doing

Leadership & Strategy:

- Define and execute the software engineering strategy, aligning with the company’s overall PQC product roadmap.
- Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, developers, and software security experts, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.
- Champion and continuously refine Agile development processes (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) to improve team velocity, predictability, and product quality.
- Stay informed about trends in post-quantum cryptography and its software implementations to ensure competitive positioning and forward-thinking solutions.

Software Development & Architecture:

- Oversee the design and implementation of cryptographic software libraries, secure protocols, and secure IP blocks optimised for PQC algorithms.
- Drive the design and integration of software for use cases such as secure key management, secure communication protocols, and cryptographic agility.
- Ensure the software architecture supports scalable and high-performance designs suitable for embedded systems, mobile, cloud, and data centre applications.

Project Management & Process:

- Support the execution of software projects using Agile methodologies, overseeing sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives to ensure predictable delivery.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, including cryptographers, hardware engineers, and external vendors to ensure seamless integration of software and cryptography solutions.
- Implement and enhance rigorous testing and verification methodologies, including a robust CI/CD pipeline for automated testing, integration, and deployment.

Collaboration & Communication:

- Work closely with the hardware and cryptography teams to ensure hardware-software co-design, ensuring that software products fully leverage the latest PQC hardware accelerators.
- Engage with external stakeholders, including open-source communities and enterprise customers, to manage the integration and deployment of PQC software IP.
- Communicate technical concepts and development progress to executives, product management, and customers in a clear and actionable way.

Security & Compliance:

- Ensure all software products meet the latest security standards and regulations for post-quantum cryptography.
- Maintain and enforce robust secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) principles, including side-channel attack resistance, secure coding practices, and cryptographic algorithm agility.

🎯 Required Skills And Qualifications

Required:

- Education: Phd, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field with a focus on cryptography or cybersecurity.
- Experience:
- 10+ years of software development experience, with 5+ years in a leadership role.
- Strong experience in software security, cryptographic software implementations (e.g., OpenSSL, BoringSSL), and knowledge of post-quantum cryptography.
- Experience in secure software development and validation, including knowledge of C, C++, Rust, or other relevant languages.
- Proven experience in bringing secure software products from concept to market.
- Technical Skills:
- Software Development & Agile Processes: Deep, hands-on experience with modern software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Kanban), including backlog grooming, sprint planning, and performance metric tracking (e.g., velocity, burn-down charts).
- Advanced Cryptography: Understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and key management systems. Familiarity with PQC standards and protocols (e.g., NIST PQC).
- Security Architecture: Expertise in designing and implementing secure architectures for software and cloud environments.
- Embedded Systems: Knowledge of secure software for embedded systems and IoT security.
- Software Security: Experience with software-based security solutions and an understanding of secure coding practices and vulnerability analysis.
- Secure Implementation: Understanding of the secure implementation of cryptography and systems which use cryptography. Knowledge of Implementation attacks such as Side Channel and Fault injection and implementation countermeasures.

🏆Some of the perks of working with us:

- Unparalleled opportunities to learn and accelerated career development.
- A collaborative, team environment with people who truly love what they do.
- Competitive salary and share option scheme.
- Flexible and hybrid working, and a working from home budget.
- Private health insurance for yourself and your family.
- 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and two wellness weeks).
- 50% gym membership discount.
- The chance to work with a spirited, smart, and friendly team!

Interested? Apply today to be part of the future of secure hardware! 🚀

PQShield is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We’re passionate about talent and proud to foster an inclusive environment; all applicants will be considered regardless of their gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

## About PQShield

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: PQShield provides quantum-resistant cryptographic hardware and software solutions to protect organizations against the threat of quantum computers.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B, $37M raised in 2024)
- **Headquarters**: Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- **Founded**: 2018
- **Founders**: Dr. Ali El Kaafarani

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Cybersecurity, Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Semiconductor IP, Defense & Aerospace
- **Target customers**: B2B – Enterprise, Government, Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), Semiconductor manufacturers, Defense contractors
- **Mission**: Empower organizations, industries, and nations with quantum-resistant hardware and software solutions; shape the way the digital world is protected against the threats of tomorrow.

## Products & Services
- **PQMicroLib-Core**: Highly-optimized post-quantum cryptography for embedded devices, requiring as little as 5KB RAM (Software IP).
- **PQPerform-Flare**: High-performance hardware accelerator for post-quantum cryptography (Hardware IP).
- **PQPerform-Inferno**: Scalable hardware PQC solution built for high speed and high performance (Hardware IP).
- **PQPerform-Flex**: High-performance subsystem with RISC-V processor for next-generation cryptographic agility (Hardware IP).
- **PQPlatform-TrustSys**: PQC-first Root-of-Trust system designed for a secure post-quantum transition (System-level IP).
- **PQPlatform-CoPro**: Secure coprocessor for easy integration of PQC into security systems (Hardware IP).
- **PQCryptoLib-SDK**: Plug-and-play SDK for quantum-resilience in OpenSSL applications (Software SDK).
- **PQCryptoLib-Core**: Highly configurable software PQC library for classical, PQC, and PQ/T hybrid modes (Software Library).
- **Consulting & Migration Services**: NCSC Assured Cyber Security Consultancy (ACSC) for PQC, including discovery, migration planning, and implementation advice.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $64.6M (as of 2025); Annual revenue ~$7.0M (LinkedIn estimate)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Addition (Series A lead), Oxford Science Enterprises, Chevron, Legal & General. Customers include Microchip, AMD, Lattice, Lockheed Martin, Capgemini, TCS, Cryptomathic, Mirise Technologies.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Headcount grew 22% YoY to ~72 employees (LinkedIn) or ~90 (company statement) across 10 countries.
  - Raised $37M Series B in 2024.
  - Co-authored all initial NIST PQC standards; 36+ filed patents, 85+ peer-reviewed papers.
  - NCSC Assured Cyber Security Consultancy status for PQC.
  - Expanding into Japan with dedicated Sales Director role.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep PQC expertise**: Team members co-authored NIST’s initial post-quantum cryptography standards and actively contribute to IETF, ETSI, RISC-V.
- **Full-stack offering**: Covers hardware IP, software libraries, SDKs, and consulting – from chip to cloud.
- **Certifications & compliance**: ISO 9001/27001, FIPS 140-3 readiness, export control compliant.
- **Early mover**: First to market with quantum-safe cryptography on chips and in applications; trusted by major semiconductor and defense players.
- **NCSC Assured Consultancy**: Unique government-backed authority to advise critical national infrastructure on PQC migration.

## Strategic Focus
- **Urgent PQC migration**: Helping Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) meet the NCSC’s 2031 deadline and other industries’ 2035 deadline.
- **Global expansion**: Growing sales and engineering presence in Japan, US, and Europe.
- **Standards leadership**: Continuing to shape global PQC standards and ensure product compliance.
- **Product agility**: Developing flexible hardware subsystems (e.g., RISC-V based) to support cryptographic agility as standards evolve.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & values**: “We Go Together”, “We Feel Empowered”, “We Are Open-minded” – emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and community.
- **Remote & flexible**: Fully remote within UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Austria; hybrid or office options available; flexible hours.
- **Time off**: 25 days paid holiday + public holidays (20 in US); two company-wide “wellness weeks” (summer and Christmas/New Year).
- **Health & wellbeing**: Private healthcare for employee and family; 50% gym/sport reimbursement; Calm app subscription; Employee Assistance Programme (24/7).
- **Financial**: Competitive salary with annual reviews; share option scheme for permanent employees; pension enrollment.
- **Learning & development**: Dedicated personal development budget; LinkedIn Learning access; regular webinars and lunch-and-learns.
- **Innovation time**: Protected time to explore new ideas and technologies beyond day-to-day tasks.
- **Community**: Paid “Giving Back Day”; OnHand volunteer app; annual global offsite; virtual yoga and aperitifs.
- **Engineering culture**: World-class team of cryptographers, researchers, and engineers working on cutting-edge PQC implementations across hardware, software, and systems.

## Sources
1. [pqshield.com](https://pqshield.com/)
2. [pqshield.com/careers](https://pqshield.com/careers/)
3. [uk.linkedin.com/company/pqshield](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/pqshield)
4. [pqshield.com/ncsc-acsc](https://pqshield.com/ncsc-acsc/)

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