Embedded Software Engineer - Contractor

DEA Aviation Ltd.; Retford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DEA Aviation is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer - Contractor to design, develop and deliver robust, mission‑critical systems at Gamston Airport, Retford. You will own software components, build secure architectures, and collaborate with experienced engineers in a highly regulated environment.

The role emphasizes clean code, reliable systems, and value delivery, with mentorship to junior engineers and a focus on front‑end and back‑end integration using React and Python.

Qualifications

• Hold a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Proven track record of software delivery from inception through production and maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance core software applications using Bash, Python and JavaScript.
• Design and deploy low-level security architectures (Intel Secure Boot, Arm TrustZone).
• Engineer reliable connectivity and data pipelines between Intel host boards and Eizo GPUs.
• Design and integrate IPMI solutions for robust hardware management.
• Author and maintain comprehensive, high-quality technical documentation.
• Act as a technical SME, mentoring internal engineering teams.

Skills

Python

React

Linux

Git

CI/CD

Docker

AWS

Databases

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering

Tools

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

DynamoDB

IPMI

Ubuntu drivers

Job description

Embedded Software Engineer - Contractor

Department: Systems

Employment Type: Temporary

Location: Gamston Airport, Retford

Reporting To: Jonathan Tawn

Description

DEA Aviation is the UK-based lead operational company within the wider DEA Group. As part of a strategic corporate structure, the Group includes European Specialised Aviation Operations (ESAO), a wholly owned subsidiary based in Malta.

Our technology is at the core of what we do.

We design and build integrated software and hardware systems that bring together complex sensor technologies and different technical standards.

The result: flexible, reliable systems that perform under pressure and deliver on tight timelines.

As a Senior Software Engineer you will be contributing to the design, development and delivery of robust, mission‑critical systems. Building high-quality software, collaborating with experienced engineers and growing your technical expertise in a highly regulated environment.

Taking ownership of your work, contributing to team standards and continuously developing your skills while solving real-world problems.

You care about clean code, reliable systems, and delivering value in a safe and efficient way.

Key Responsibilities

Software Engineering

• Develop and enhance core software applications using Bash, Python and JavaScript.

Embedded Systems & Hardware Security

• Design and deploy low-level security architectures, specifically implementing Intel Secure Boot and Arm TrustZone.
• Engineer reliable software connectivity and data pipelines between Intel host boards and Eizo (ARM/NVIDIA) GPGPUs.
• Design and integrate Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) solutions for robust hardware management.
• Implement Ubuntu and relevant driver infrastructure

Technical Operations

• Author and maintain comprehensive, high-quality technical documentation for all engineered solutions.
• Act as a technical Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing ad‑hoc mentorship and technical support to internal engineering teams.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Hold a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• Have a proven track record of software delivery from inception through to production and maintenance

Skills Profile

• Ability to obtain SC Clearance
• Experience with Python and building applications using React
• Working knowledge of relational and/or databases such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, DynamoDB
• Understanding of software engineering fundamentals
• Comfortable with AWS services (e.g. EC2, Lambda, or similar)
• Familiarity with Git and collaborative development workflows
• Some experience with Docker and containerised environments
• Awareness of CI/CD practices and automated testing
• Understanding of Linux environment
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a lifelong learner
• Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively in a team
• Working within regulated environments
• A proactive mindset and eagerness to develop your skills
• Naturally default to data‑driven decision making
• Champion engineering excellence, leading code reviews, shaping automated testing strategies, and writing clean, maintainable code
• Mentor and upskill mid‑level and junior engineers, acting as a technical multiplier for your team
• Architect and build reusable, performant front‑end components and drive front‑end architecture using React
• Design and scale microservices‑based systems and APIs, proactively addressing latency, reliability, and system bottlenecks
• Implement robust system resilience (e.g., retries, timeouts, circuit breakers) and drive a security‑first approach to development
• Define and implement observability strategies using modern logging and monitoring tools to ensure system health
• Optimise and manage CI/CD pipelines to ensure smooth, predictable, and secure deployment lifecycles
• Collaborate with product and design teams to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions