Freelance Application Software Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin

Lead Software Engineer

Reports to: Director of Engineering

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).

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. 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.