Senior Software Engineer – Builds and Releases, Arm, Cambridge (UK)

Arm is hiring a Senior Software Engineer to work on build systems and CI/CD pipelines for large-scale compiler and toolchain projects at its global headquarters in Cambridge, United Kingdom. This is a permanent, hybrid-working role that sits within the Software (CE-SW) group — the team responsible for shaping the software ecosystem around Arm’s next-generation architectures. For candidates who require it, Arm offers Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, covering the employer-side sponsorship costs.

Quick Job Overview

About the Employer

Arm is one of the world’s leading semiconductor and software design companies. Its processor designs and technology platforms power virtually every smartphone on the planet, along with billions of embedded, automotive, and cloud computing devices. Founded in 1990 as a joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple, and VLSI Technology, Arm has grown into a FTSE 100 company with a global workforce of over 7,000 people. Arm does not manufacture chips itself — it licenses its intellectual property to partners such as Qualcomm, Samsung, Apple, and MediaTek, who then produce the silicon that ends up in consumer and industrial products.

The company’s headquarters in Cambridge serves as the central hub for architecture definition, software toolchain development, and ecosystem enablement. Arm’s culture places a strong emphasis on collaboration, openness, and technical depth, with a working environment that blends in-person teamwork and flexible hybrid arrangements. The company has consistently been recognised as a top employer in the UK technology sector, and it maintains active commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Arm is a licensed Skilled Worker visa sponsor in the UK and has a well-established process for supporting international hires through the relocation and immigration process. The company covers employer-side sponsorship costs, which is a significant benefit for overseas applicants navigating the UK immigration system for the first time.

What This Role Involves

This Senior Software Engineer role sits in Arm’s Software (CE-SW) group — the division that builds and maintains the software ecosystem around Arm’s upcoming architectures and systems. The group works with processors and hardware that are not yet publicly available, contributing upstream to open-source projects (primarily in the LLVM ecosystem) to ensure that Arm’s build, integration, and toolchain requirements are properly represented in widely used tooling.

As the successful candidate, your core focus will be on designing, maintaining, and evolving the build, integration, and testing systems that support complex compiler and toolchain software projects. You will work closely with compiler engineers and software development teams, making sure that their code moves efficiently from development through testing to release. This is not a feature-coding role in the traditional sense — it is a build-engineering and DevOps role that requires someone who enjoys making large-scale software development run smoothly and reliably.

Day to day, you will be responsible for implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines for large C and C++ projects, triaging build and test failures, identifying performance regressions, and improving the tooling and documentation that developers rely on. You will also collaborate with open-source communities, helping to integrate Arm-specific toolchain changes upstream in projects like LLVM. A willingness to learn and adapt is essential, because the technical landscape here moves quickly — Arm’s architectures evolve generation by generation, and the build infrastructure needs to keep pace.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Arm has listed the following as required qualifications for this role. These are not aspirational — they reflect the genuine day-to-day demands of the position:

• Strong experience with build engineering, continuous integration, and DevOps practices
• Hands-on experience with C and/or C++ build systems and tooling, with CMake specifically required
• Experience working in Linux-based build environments
• Familiarity with CI/CD systems such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or TeamCity
• Good scripting skills in Python and Bash
• Working knowledge of Docker
• Experience supporting or delivering complex software projects end to end
• Application of software engineering standards, including code review and automation
• Degree-level education or equivalent relevant experience

Additionally, Arm has listed several “nice to have” skills that would strengthen an application but are not essential:

• Experience with compiler toolchains such as LLVM or GCC
• Experience with GitLab
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools (for example, GitHub Copilot or similar) to improve productivity, code quality, or developer workflows
• Knowledge of build optimisation, performance testing, or benchmarking
• System administration and maintenance skills across Linux, macOS, and Windows
• Open-source community participation, including code contributions or reviews

Salary, Benefits, and Relocation Support

Arm has confirmed the salary range for this role as £73,500 – £99,500 per year. The actual offer within this band will depend on the candidate’s experience, skills, and the specifics of their interview performance. This is a competitive range for a senior build-engineering role in the Cambridge technology market, where the cost of living is relatively high but so is the concentration of high-quality employers.

Beyond base salary, Arm provides a comprehensive benefits package that typically includes:

• Performance-based bonus
• Share incentive plan (RSU grants)
• Private medical insurance
• Pension contribution
• Life assurance and income protection
• Employee assistance programme
• Learning and development budget
• Volunteering days
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

Regarding relocation, Arm regularly hires internationally and has an established relocation support framework. While the specific relocation package for this role has not been itemised on the job posting, candidates who require relocation to the UK are encouraged to discuss this during the recruitment process. Arm’s mobility team is experienced in handling international moves and can advise on practicalities such as housing, schooling, and settling in.

Work Permit / Visa Note

Arm is a licensed Skilled Worker visa sponsor in the United Kingdom. The job posting for this role explicitly confirms that visa sponsorship is available for candidates who require it.

Specifically, Arm states: “If skilled worker sponsorship is required, Arm will meet costs associated with sponsorship for the employer only. All fees associated with the individual’s application e.g. visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, will be the responsibility of the successful candidate.”

This means Arm will cover the Certificate of Sponsorship and the employer-side immigration costs, but you as the applicant would need to pay your own visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). At the time of writing, the IHS is £1,035 per year of the visa, and the Skilled Worker visa application fee varies depending on your circumstances (typically around £719 for a three-year visa from outside the UK). These figures are set by the UK Home Office and may change — always check the official UK Government website for the most current rates.

The Skilled Worker visa is the primary UK work visa route for sponsored employment. It allows you to live and work in the UK for the sponsoring employer in the specific role listed on your Certificate of Sponsorship. After five years on a Skilled Worker visa, you may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is the pathway to permanent settlement.

Who This Role May Suit

This role is likely to be a good fit for experienced build engineers, DevOps engineers, or software engineers with a strong infrastructure and tooling focus who want to work at the intersection of hardware and software. Specifically, it may appeal to:

• Senior or mid-level software engineers who have spent significant time building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines for large C/C++ codebases and want to apply those skills in a globally influential technology company
• DevOps or build-release engineers who are comfortable working with CMake, Jenkins or GitHub Actions, Docker, and scripting in Python and Bash, and who are looking for a role with deeper technical ownership
• Engineers with experience in compiler toolchains (LLVM, GCC) who understand the unique build challenges that come with complex, multi-platform toolchain projects
• International software engineers who are seeking UK-based roles with confirmed Skilled Worker visa sponsorship and who want to work for a well-established, financially stable employer with a proven track record of supporting international hires
• Anyone who values the opportunity to contribute to open-source projects as part of their day job, rather than as a side activity

The hybrid working model and Arm’s general approach to flexibility make this role accessible to people who prefer a mix of office and home working, though regular presence at the Cambridge headquarters will be expected — this is not a fully remote position.

How to Apply Officially

To apply for this role, you must go through Arm’s official careers portal. The direct link to this specific job posting is:

Senior Software Engineer – Builds and Releases at Arm (Job ID: 2025-16443)

JobsRivo is not the employer and does not process applications. You should apply only through the official Arm careers website. The application process typically involves submitting your CV and cover letter online, followed by initial screening, technical assessments, and interviews. Arm’s recruitment team will communicate directly with you throughout the process.

Required Documents

While Arm has not published a definitive document checklist on the job posting, based on the standard application process for similar senior engineering roles at Arm, you should have the following ready:

• An up-to-date CV or resume detailing your relevant build engineering, CI/CD, and DevOps experience
• Evidence of your right to work in the UK, or a clear statement that you will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship
• Degree certificate or equivalent qualification evidence (if your application references a degree)
• Contact details for professional references (typically requested later in the process)

If you are applying from outside the UK and will need visa sponsorship, it is helpful to flag this early in your application so that Arm’s mobility team can begin assessing sponsorship eligibility alongside the technical evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arm provide visa sponsorship for this role?

Yes. Arm explicitly confirms that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available for this position. Arm covers the employer-side sponsorship costs (the Certificate of Sponsorship and associated employer fees). The individual applicant is responsible for paying their own visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

What is the salary for this role?

Arm lists the salary range as £73,500 – £99,500 per year. The actual offer depends on your experience, skills, and interview performance.

Is this a remote role?

No. This is a hybrid role based at Arm’s global headquarters in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Teams at Arm set their own hybrid working patterns, but regular in-person attendance at the Cambridge office is expected.

What build tools and CI/CD systems does this role require experience with?

The role requires hands-on experience with CMake (specifically listed as required), along with CI/CD systems such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or TeamCity. You should also be comfortable with Python and Bash scripting, Docker, and Linux-based build environments.

Do I need compiler toolchain experience to apply?

Compiler toolchain experience (LLVM or GCC) is listed as a “nice to have” skill, not a requirement. The core requirements focus on build engineering, CI/CD, CMake, scripting, and Docker. However, if you do have toolchain experience, it will strengthen your application.

What is the closing date for this role?

Arm has not listed a specific closing date for this vacancy. Job postings at Arm typically remain open until the position is filled. If you are interested, it is advisable to apply sooner rather than later, as roles can close without advance notice once a sufficient candidate pool has been reached.

Relevant Resources

Here are some pages on JobsRivo that may be useful if you are considering this role:

• How to Find Visa Sponsorship Jobs in the UK — Complete Guide
• Scam Alerts — How to Avoid Fake Job Offers
• How We Verify Jobs at JobsRivo
• FAQ / Help — Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer

JobsRivo is an independent job listing portal and is not the employer. Applicants should apply only through the official employer website. JobsRivo does not charge fees, process visas, or guarantee job offers. All information presented here has been sourced from the official Arm careers page and was verified on 25 May 2026. Job details may change after this date — always confirm the latest information on the employer’s official website before applying.