Embedded Software Engineer
Location: 3 days/week in London
Contract Length: 12 Months
Day Rate: £50-65 per hour
Security Clearance: SC Eligible or Active SC Preferred
Start Date: ASAP
Overview
I am seeking an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to support the development of advanced defence radar and surveillance systems for a high-profile programme within the defence sector.
This contract role will focus on real-time embedded software development for radar processing platforms, sensor interfaces, and mission-critical electronic systems. The successful engineer will work closely with systems, FPGA, DSP, and electronics teams to deliver software for complex embedded hardware environments.
Key Responsibilities
Design and develop embedded software in C/C++ for radar and sensor systems
Develop low-level drivers and hardware abstraction layers for custom embedded platforms
Work on real-time software running on ARM-based and DSP-enabled systems
Interface with FPGA teams for high-speed data transfer and hardware control
Support radar signal acquisition, timing, synchronisation, and control functionality
Develop software for communication interfaces including SPI, UART, Ethernet, PCIe, and CAN
Debug complex hardware/software integration issues using JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analysers
Participate in system integration, verification, and environmental testing activities
Produce clear technical documentation aligned with defence engineering standards
Required Skills & Experience
Strong commercial experience in embedded software engineering within defence, aerospace, or high-reliability systems
Expert-level C/C++ development skills
Experience with RTOS environments such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, Integrity, or embedded Linux
Experience working closely with FPGA or DSP teams
Strong understanding of embedded hardware architectures and board bring-up
Experience debugging low-level embedded systems
Familiarity with high-speed communication interfaces and real-time data handling
Experience working within regulated or safety-critical engineering environments
Ability to obtain or hold UK SC clearance
Desirable Experience
Radar systems or sensor-processing experience
Digital signal processing (DSP)
RF systems or electronic warfare knowledge
Experience with Xilinx or Intel FPGA platforms
DO-178C, DEF STAN, or IEC standards exposure
Python scripting or automated test frameworks
CI/CD pipelines and embedded Linux build systems