ESS Software Developer

BAE Systems; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A defence technology company in the UK is seeking a Software Developer to join their Engineering Support System Software Team. The role involves analyzing system requirements, implementing new functionalities, and providing technical support. Candidates should be proficient in C# or Visual Basic, with experience in various software development practices. The role offers hybrid working arrangements and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible discounted health and wellbeing benefits

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Annual incentives

Qualifications

• Essential: Proficiency in C# or Visual Basic 6 (VB6) with a robust code writing ability.

Responsibilities

• Analyze system requirements to influence software design.
• Implement and configure new functionality with maintainable code.
• Produce Unit/Module Tests & Software Documents.
• Provide technical support to Systems Build and Test Teams.

Skills

Proficiency in C# or Visual Basic 6 (VB6)

Modern UI Development - WPF or WinForms

Version Control - Git/ ClearCase

Testing Mindset - TDD and Automated Testing

Data and Persistence - Entity Framework, SQL

DevOps Practices - TFS or Azure DevOps

Software Craftsmanship - Design Patterns

Job description

Job title: Software Developer

Location: Warton - We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: £41,361+ depending on experience

What you’ll be doing:

• Analysis of system requirements to influence the software design and contribute to project planning
• Implementation and configuration of new functionality ensuring a maintainable code base
• Production of Unit/Module Tests & Software Documents with the appropriate coverage
• Provision of internal technical support to the Systems Build, Integration & Test Teams during formal qualification activities.

Your skills and experiences:

Essential:

• Proficiency in C# or Visual Basic 6 (VB6) — you’ll be confident writing robust, maintainable code in one or both languages

Desirable:

• Modern UI Development – experience with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) or WinForms
• Version Control – familiarity with Git, ClearCase, or similar tools for collaborative development
• Testing Mindset – exposure to Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Automated Testing frameworks such as Coded UI or Rational Robot
• Data and Persistence – understanding of Entity Framework, SQL (Oracle), and XML technologies like XSD/XSLT
• DevOps Practices – experience using Team Foundation Server (TFS) or Azure DevOps for CI/CD and project tracking
• Software Craftsmanship – appreciation for Design Patterns and SOLID principles to create clean, scalable, and maintainable code

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Engineering Support System (ESS) Software Team:

At the heart of the Eurofighter Typhoon’s operational capability lies the Engineering Support System (ESS), the vital software that keeps the RAF’s frontline fleet mission-ready. ESS connects directly with the aircraft’s integrated monitoring and recording systems, enabling engineers to retrieve flight data, diagnose faults, and maintain aircraft performance, ensuring the UK’s skies are protected 24/7.

Our team is also developing a suite of innovative support tools, including ruggedized tablet applications and specialist utilities, offering a diverse range of exciting software challenges.

As an ESS Software Developer, you’ll be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking engineering team that takes pride in high-quality, well-structured code and strong software engineering principles. We value curiosity, teamwork, and a drive to continuously improve, and we’re looking for someone who shares those values to help us shape the next generation of defence software.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 6th November 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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