Job Description
Embedded Software Engineer (Real-Time Ada)
Location: Stevenage
Salary: Circa £65,000 depending on experience, plus bonus and benefits
A leading UK defence organisation is expanding its Real-Time Datalink Software team and seeks an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to develop cutting-edge communications for missiles and platforms. This hands-on role offers the chance to shape protocols and designs in a new function, working with state-of-the-art technology central to national security, while growing your career in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment.
The role
As an Embedded Software Engineer, you’ll drive the full software lifecycle for real-time datalink systems, ensuring robust over-the-air communication between missiles and platforms. Collaborating with firmware, systems, hardware, and test engineers, you’ll deliver safety-critical embedded solutions that power advanced defence programmes from requirements to verification.
What you will be doing
* Capturing requirements and designing embedded software architecture for hard real-time datalink protocols.
* Implementing and verifying code in Ada, optimising for lab-tested performance with test equipment like scopes.
* Integrating with multi-disciplinary teams to troubleshoot software/hardware issues and analyse system performance.
* Developing protocols for current and future missile systems, influencing technical direction in a growing team.
* Participating in reviews, testing, and continuous improvement of real-time operating systems like FreeRTOS.
What we are looking for
* Significant experience developing embedded software using Ada in safety-critical environments.
* Proven hard real-time development and lab work with hardware components and test equipment.
* Familiarity with real-time operating systems (e.g., FreeRTOS) and full lifecycle processes.
* Strong problem-solving for system integration and performance in defence or aerospace contexts.
* Communication protocols (e.g., SPI, UART) or model-based tools (UML, Rhapsody) are advantageous.
What’s on offer
* Competitive salary circa £65,000, with company bonus up to £2,500, pension (up to 14% total), and paid overtime.
* Dynamic hybrid working: 4 days per week on-site, with flexi leave (up to 15 extra days) and enhanced parental benefits.
* Fantastic site facilities, career training to technical leadership, and potential for international secondments.
* Due to workload classification, British Citizens or dual UK nationals eligible for BPSS security checks are essential.
Want to hear more? Apply today!