MERITUS are recruiting for an Embedded Software Engineer to support RTOS projects in the defence industry from our client's site in Bristol on an initial 6 month contract. EMBEDDED SOFTWARE ENGINEER - INSIDE IR35 - £68 PER HOUR - BRISTOL, ONSITE - 6 MONTHS (LIKELY EXTENSION) - UNDERGO SC CLEARANCE - SINGLE STAGE INTERVIEW PROCESS Our client is a global leader in advanced defence systems, seeking a highly capable and adaptable Embedded Software Engineer to join their engineering team at a secure UK development site. You will contribute to the development of mission-critical embedded software within a dynamic team environment, with the autonomy to take ownership of technical delivery. The role combines software development with hands-on integration and testing on target hardware. Key Responsibilities Develop embedded real-time software on Linux using C++ within multi-threaded applications, aligned to defined requirements and interface specifications Design and execute functional and integration testing on target hardware Support integration activities within a lab-based environment Adhere to established project planning, quality, and engineering processes Utilise issue tracking and project management tools to support delivery Required Experience & Skills Strong experience developing and debugging real-time embedded software using C/C++ Experience with model-based development tools (e.g. UML-based environments) Proven background in integration testing, simulation, and hardware/software validation Experience developing software against defined requirements and interface control documentation (ICDs) Familiarity with requirements management and technical documentation tools Understanding of configuration management environments Desirable: Exposure to Python, Ada, or RTOS environments Behavioural Profile Proactive and adaptable mindset Strong communication skills Ability to operate independently and within a collaborative team environment