Embedded Software Engineer

Zenovo; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 77,000 - 118,000; Part time

Job summary

Zenovo is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to support a modernisation programme on the outskirts of Southampton. You will be hands-on with firmware and hardware, using Embedded C/C++ on ARM microcontrollers within RTOS and bare-metal contexts.

The role combines 1 day per week onsite with the remainder remote, focusing on security, platform migration, secure boot and firmware signing while collaborating with hardware and software teams.

Qualifications

• Experience with Embedded C/C++ on ARM microcontrollers.
• Solid RTOS and/or bare-metal development background.
• Strong debugging using JTAG/SWD and low-level peripherals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware for ARM-based MCUs.
• Work at low level with peripherals, interrupts and hardware interfaces.
• Develop for RTOS and bare-metal environments and fix complex issues.
• Perform on-target debugging and contribute to secure firmware features.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

ARM microcontrollers

RTOS or bare-metal

JTAG/SWD debugging

Embedded security

Firmware debugging

Tools

ARM GCC/toolchain

JTAG

SWD

Cryptography libs

Job description

Contract: 3-6 months, with potential to extend

Working Pattern: 1 day onsite per week, the rest if remote.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Senior Embedded Software Engineer to join a technically challenging embedded systems modernisation programme with an established engineering organisation on the outskirts of Southampton.

This is a hands-on contract role for someone who is comfortable working at firmware and hardware level, with strong experience in embedded C/C++, ARM microcontrollers and RTOS/bare-metal development

You will be working alongside an experienced engineering team on an established embedded platform, helping to resolve technical challenges, improve security and support ongoing platform modernisation.

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing and maintaining embedded C/C++ firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers.
• Working at low level with peripherals, interrupts and hardware interfaces.
• Developing software for RTOS and bare-metal environments.
• Investigating complex firmware and hardware/software integration issues.
• Performing on-target debugging using JTAG, SWD and other debugging/instrumentation techniques.
• Supporting firmware security improvements and remediation activities.
• Working with embedded build systems and ARM GCC/toolchains.
• Supporting platform modernisation and migration activities.
• Contributing to secure firmware functionality such as secure boot and firmware signing.
• Working with development tooling and engineering utilities.
• Supporting embedded CI/CD and automated build/release processes where required.
• Working closely with hardware, software and engineering stakeholders to identify and resolve technical issues.

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in experienced embedded engineers with a strong combination of firmware development and low-level hardware knowledge.

• Strong commercial experience with Embedded C/C++.
• Experience with ARM microcontrollers.
• Strong RTOS and/or bare-metal development experience.
• Good understanding of interrupts, concurrency and timing-critical software.
• Experience with low-level peripheral configuration.
• Practical experience with JTAG and/or SWD.
• Experience with embedded debugging and fault finding.
• Understanding of embedded security principles.
• Experience with cryptography, key management or secure storage/configuration.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of technically complex problems.
• Renesas or other ARM MCU experience.
• Experience of embedded platform migration or modernisation.
• Secure boot and firmware signing.
• Authenticated command interfaces.
• Embedded CI/CD.
• Embedded build and release infrastructure.
• Hardware protection mechanisms such as watchdogs and MPUs.
• Marine Technology or saftey critical product experience