Embedded Software Engineer - High-Performance Automotive & Motorsport Systems

ECW Search; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist engineering organization in the South East is looking for an Embedded Software Engineer to work on high-performance automotive and motorsport systems. This hands-on role requires strong embedded C/C++ development experience and familiarity with microcontrollers. You'll design real-time control systems, debug hardware, and collaborate with engineers in a delivery-focused environment. This position offers competitive salary and benefits as well as the chance to influence vehicle performance directly.

Benefits

Bonus

Full benefits

Qualifications

• Strong embedded C or C++ development experience.
• Experience working with microcontrollers or embedded processors.
• Exposure to real-time systems.
• Experience debugging and validating software on real embedded hardware.
• Familiarity with embedded communication protocols.

Responsibilities

• Designing and implementing embedded C/C++ software for real-time control systems.
• Developing software for microcontroller-based ECUs used in performance-critical applications.
• Working with embedded communication protocols such as CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I²C and UART.
• Debugging software on real hardware and supporting lab-based testing and fault investigation.
• Collaborating closely with hardware, systems and controls engineers.

Skills

Embedded C or C++ development

Microcontrollers or embedded processors

Real-time systems

Debugging and validating software

Embedded communication protocols

Job description

Embedded Software Engineer - High-Performance Automotive & Motorsport Systems

Location: Hybrid – South East

On-site: 4 days per week

Salary: £50,000 – £55,000 + bonus + full benefits

The Opportunity

Our client is a specialist engineering organisation operating at the sharp end of high-performance automotive and motorsport technology. Their systems are used in some of the most demanding, performance‑critical vehicle programmes in the world, where reliability, speed and precision are non‑negotiable.

The business designs and delivers advanced embedded electronics and software that operate in extreme environments, supporting rapid iteration, real-time control and data‑driven decision‑making.

The Role

This is a hands‑on embedded software engineering role within a fast‑moving, delivery‑focused environment. It is not a support, verification‑only or theory‑led position.

You’ll work as part of a close‑knit embedded software team, developing real‑time software for ECUs and control systems used in high‑performance automotive and motorsport applications. The role spans embedded software development, hardware interaction and system‑level testing, with exposure from lab work through to vehicle validation.

While the team makes use of MATLAB/Simulink‑based workflows, the focus of the role is on practical embedded software delivery, not pure tools ownership.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Designing and implementing embedded C/C++ software for real‑time control systems.
• Developing software for microcontroller‑based ECUs used in performance‑critical applications.
• Working with embedded communication protocols such as CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I²C and UART.
• Debugging software on real hardware and supporting lab‑based testing and fault investigation.
• Collaborating closely with hardware, systems and controls engineers.
• Supporting system integration, validation and (occasionally) vehicle testing activities.

What We’re Looking For

This role suits a practical embedded engineer who enjoys working close to hardware and real systems, and who wants to deepen their experience in high‑performance automotive or motorsport environments.

Essential

• Strong embedded C or C++ development experience.
• Experience working with microcontrollers or embedded processors.
• Exposure to real‑time systems.
• Experience debugging and validating software on real embedded hardware.
• Familiarity with embedded communication protocols.
• Comfortable working across the full development lifecycle in a collaborative engineering team.

Why Apply

You’ll be working on real embedded systems that directly influence vehicle performance, alongside highly capable engineers in a delivery‑focused, low‑bureaucracy environment.

This role offers:

• Hands‑on exposure to performance‑critical embedded software.
• The chance to see your work move quickly from code to vehicle.
• Strong technical development without being pushed into management or support paths.

If you enjoy building things that genuinely matter, solving real engineering problems and working in a high‑performance environment, we’d love to talk.