---
title: 'Lead Software Engineer at PQShield'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-software-engineer-pqshield-united-kingdom-france-netherlands-spain-belgium-rfmztdmjf7qz'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Lead Software Engineer at PQShield

- **Company:** PQShield
- **Location:** United Kingdom / France / Netherlands / Spain / Belgium
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-07-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://pqshield.com/careers/apply/4929905101?gh_jid=4929905101

## Job description

Lead Software Engineer

Reports to: Software Engineering Director

Department: Engineering

💼 About the role

PQShield is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to help lead a cryptographic software IP team. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be responsible for overseeing the entire software development lifecycle, from design to testing, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions. This includes planning, organizing, and managing the software development, including setting timelines, allocating resources, and tracking progress. You will work across a variety of environments, solving complex problems and developing other engineers, while maintaining a strong focus on quality and best practices. You will support the hiring, training, and managing of a team of software engineers, fostering collaboration, and resolving conflicts.

Candidates should hold a degree in Electronic Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent experience, backed by at least 10 years in software design and/or verification. We are looking for a technical lead—or a senior engineer ready to step up into leadership—to guide our team. Knowledge of cryptographic engineering and side-channel attack resistance is a major bonus. You should be ready to contribute to cross-team strategy, lead architectural reviews, and drive planning for your team.

Founded in 2018, we are a well-funded deep tech startup with proven technology and a clear path to market. Joining us now offers a unique opportunity to work directly with our founders and inventors, fast-track your career progression, and shape a rapidly expanding segment of the semiconductor industry (Post-Quantum Cryptography and RISC-V). This is a great opportunity  for career progression and to get a head start in a rapidly expanding segment of the semiconductor industry (Post-Quantum Cryptography and RISC-V).

⚒️ What you’ll be doing

- Working with other engineering leaders and project managers to plan and allocate work, ensuring we are delivering on our product roadmap.
- You’ll be expected to take on a technical leadership role, and be responsible for coordinating and delivering application and embedded software IP design projects from conception to customer delivery.
- Line Management of a software engineering team:
- Identifying hiring needs, conducting interviews, and selecting suitable candidates for open positions.
- Orienting new colleagues, providing necessary training, and ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to succeed.
- Setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, conducting performance reviews, and recognising and rewarding achievements.
- Identifying training and development opportunities to help colleagues grow their skills and advance their careers.
- Addressing under-performance, providing coaching and support, and taking disciplinary action when necessary.
- Fostering positive relationships with team members, resolving conflicts, and promoting a positive work environment
- Ensuring the software engineering team has all of the tooling and infrastructure it needs to function well.
- Mentoring other colleagues, and being a point of contact for software design expertise within the company.
- Working with verification engineers to review verification and test plans.
- Define architectural definitions for complex algorithmic and/or system level solutions.
- Providing feedback to colleagues on feasibility of implementation and specification quality.
- Working closely with other teams and project stakeholders, and acting as an enabler for their development work. E.g. coordinating with hardware engineers or our product vulnerability team.
- Engaging with customers, including helping with integration questions, or answering questions during technical sales calls.
- Ensuring clean lint and implementation reports for IP blocks and subsystems.

🎯 Required Skills And Qualifications

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Confidence in planning out a project development cycle and coordinating with project managers as development progresses.
- A commitment to high quality engineering in all areas of their work, including advocating for the best long-term solutions over the easiest or quickest.
- Self-starter with the ability to work with and inspire a team.
- Experience building software IP blocks from scratch, and owning the process from initial specification through to customer delivery.
- Expert level C experience in an embedded environment.
- Able to apply knowledge effectively in unfamiliar situations and actively maintains own knowledge and shares with others.
- Rapidly absorbs and critically assesses new information and applies it effectively.
- Specifies architectural solutions to technical challenges across multiple technical domains.
- Understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and key management systems.

👍 Preferred Skills And Qualifications

- Familiarity with PQC standards and protocols (e.g., NIST PQC).
- Familiarity with Rust in an Embedded environment.
- Previous experience with software/hardware co-designs.
- Arm & RISC-V experience.
- Knowledge of side-channel security countermeasures.
- Confidence using Gitlab CI, or otherwise principles of continuous integration and testing.
- Confidence with the Python programming language.
- Previous experience managing a cross-functional software team successfully.

🏆 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!

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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