Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Software Engineer
Location: Cheadle, with up to 5-10% approx. travel
Other: permanent, full-time, onsite working with up to 4.5 days in the office
Join Thales UnderWater Systems and be at the forefront of developing world-class sonar technology that safeguards navies worldwide.
What the role has to offer
1. Work on cutting-edge sonar and autonomous underwater mine hunting projects recognized globally for innovation
2. Collaborate with a diverse, international team across UK and overseas Thales sites, expanding your professional horizons
3. Enjoy a dynamic role combining hands-on software development with opportunities for travel and career growth
Our Opportunity
Thales UnderWater Systems offers you a chance to develop cutting-edge sonar software that serves UK and international navies. Our portfolio includes high-impact projects like autonomous underwater mine hunting. As a software engineer at Thales, you'll design the next generation of world-leading sonar and control technologies.
Based at our Cheadle Heath site, you'll be a vital part of the Software Development team, collaborating with colleagues across Thales in the UK and globally. Your key responsibilities will involve designing, implementing, and testing Human-Computer Interfaces, acoustic processing, and middleware products using industry-standard tools and practices. You’ll thrive in a collaborative environment, driving innovation and leading change with self-motivation and problem-solving flair. This role requires a readiness to travel across the UK for project work at Thales and partner sites. Willingness to undertake business travel is essential.
Building a Future, we can all trust.
Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world keep our friends, families and all of us safe. We cover four sectors: Mine Counter Measures, Anti-Submarine warfare, Services and Future Capabilities. Software is a vital part of our engineering community, driving excellence across diverse project - from satellite control to banking transaction and cloud security - offering consistently engaging opportunities.
What we offer you
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:
4. Pension – match like-for-like up to 7% of annual base salary
5. Life Assurance – 2 x base salary minimum (8 x salary if part of the pension scheme)
6. Income Protection – 50% of salary less state benefits for 5 years
7. Annual Leave – 201 hours, bank holidays, plus 1 company day
8. Private Medical Insurance - Couples cover
9. Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 1:00pm
10. 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
11. 24 hours paid leave for volunteering activities
12. Access to flexible benefits and discounts – dental insurance, buying & selling annual leave, cycle to work, and many more
Key Responsibilities and Tasks
13. Shape innovative solutions by collaborating with Systems Engineering to craft clear requirements and a robust test strategy
14. Drive system success as a vital project team member, delivering high-quality, reliable software that hits customer goals on time and within budget
15. Empower mission readiness by partnering with customer support to maintain and enhance software deployed on land and at sea
16. Fuel growth and innovation by teaming with software management to advance skills, adopt new technologies, and evolve our ways of working
About You
At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.
Essential:
17. Proven attainment of a 2.1 Honours Degree in a relevant discipline such as Software Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering
18. Demonstrated passion for computer science, showing a strong commitment to the field
19. Acquired strong programming skills with a clear desire and motivation to further enhance and expand these abilities
20. Proven strong written and verbal communication skills, essential for effective collaboration and documentation
21. Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a key member of a team, contributing positively to group objectives
22. Proven desire to take ownership of your professional development, actively seeking opportunities to grow and learn
Desirable:
23. Awareness of fundamental Software Engineering principles, with a demonstrated interest in applying them
24. Familiarity with and awareness of tools that support the Software Development Environment, showing an eagerness to work with industry-standard technologies
Ready to make waves in sonar technology? Apply now and help shape the future of underwater defence!
UKEO (UK Eyes Only)
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
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To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!