Cleared Software Engineer

The Opportunity Hub UK Ltd; Town of Cambridge; On-site; AUD 101,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £52,500–£68,000

Private medical & dental

Enhanced pension

Comprehensive benefits

Cambridge office-based role

Job summary

The Opportunity Hub UK Ltd in Cambridge is seeking an ambitious Cleared Software Engineer to work on live Defence & Government programmes. You’ll design, build and test software that must meet strict security and quality standards, with a focus on reliability in mission-critical systems.

The role emphasizes collaboration with systems engineers, architects and government stakeholders, producing clear documentation and contributing to code reviews while mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Active or eligible for UK Government security clearance (SC level or above).
• Commercial software development experience; languages: C++, C#, Java, or Python.
• Comfortable in process-driven environments with established frameworks.
• Strong problem-solving and methodical debugging skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication with non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborative mindset; not suited for isolation.

Responsibilities

• Design and build software components for Defence & Government programmes.
• Write, test, and maintain code across the lifecycle.
• Debug complex systems with minimal downtime.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, architects and government stakeholders.
• Produce technical documentation for audits and assurance.
• Contribute to code reviews and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Security clearance

Software dev experience

Programming languages

Structured environments

Problem solving

Clear communication

Collaborative mindset

Job description

Ambitious Cleared Software Engineer wanted to drive real impact in Defence & Government from Cambridge.

National security software doesn't get a second chance if it fails. That's the backdrop here: an established defence and government sector employer with hundreds of staff, running large-scale programmes where reliability and clearance matter as much as code quality. This Cleared Software Engineer role sits inside that world, in Cambridge, on systems that genuinely get used rather than shelved.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

Design and build software components for live Defence & Government programmes, working to formal security and quality standards

Write, test and maintain code across the full development lifecycle, from requirements through to deployment

Debug and resolve issues in complex systems where downtime isn’t an option

Work alongside systems engineers, architects and government stakeholders to translate requirements into working software

Produce clear technical documentation that satisfies audit and assurance processes

Contribute to code reviews and help junior engineers develop their skills

Here are the skills you’ll need:

• Active or eligible for UK Government security clearance (SC level or above)
• Solid commercial experience in software development, ideally with C++, C#, Java or Python
• Comfortable working within structured, process-driven environments with established frameworks
• Strong problem-solving instincts and the patience to work through complex technical issues methodically
• Clear written and verbal communication, especially when explaining technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders
• A collaborative mindset. This isn’t a role for someone who prefers to work in isolation

Key perks and benefits:

• Salary of £52,500 to £68,000, reflecting mid-level experience and the demands of cleared work
• Private medical and dental insurance for you and your family
• Enhanced pension scheme and performance-based bonuses
• Comprehensive benefits package built for long-term careers, not short stints
• Office-based role in Cambridge, with structured onboarding and clear progression routes

Why pursue a career in Defence & Government?

Defence and government technology budgets keep growing, and so does demand for engineers who can be trusted with sensitive systems. Cambridge has quietly become one of the UK's strongest hubs for this kind of work, with established employers offering the stability and depth of project that start-ups simply can’t match. Few sectors reward precision and discretion quite like this one.