Junior Embedded Software Engineer

Vantage Consulting; Belper CP; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology consultancy is seeking a Graduate / Early-Career Embedded Software Engineer to develop and test innovative security-focused products. Ideal candidates will have a relevant STEM degree, strong skills in C and C++, and a passion for embedded systems. You will work in a collaborative environment while managing your own tasks, ensuring high-quality outputs guided by formal specifications. The role offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits including professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual leave

Company pension

4× death in service

EV car scheme

On-the-job training

External courses

Qualifications

• Minimum ~3 years coding experience including university and project work.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to high quality standards.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, able to work independently.
• Good judgement and performance under pressure.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to take ownership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test innovative products and systems.
• Work in a collaborative environment while managing your own tasks.
• Produce high-quality software guided by formal specifications.

Skills

C programming

C++ programming

Embedded software experience

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

2:1 honours degree in Computer Science or related discipline

Tools

Debugging tools

Raspberry Pi

Arduino

Job description

Graduate / Early-Career Embedded Software Engineer

About the Opportunity

This is an excellent role for graduates or early-career software engineers looking to develop and test innovative products and systems at the forefront of cyber security. You'll join an experienced, highly skilled engineering team working on high-integrity, security-focused technologies where reliability and precision are essential.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong design and coding ability, an eagerness to explore ideas, and a passion for building high-quality software. Because security and functional correctness are central to the work, this role will suit someone who wants to develop high-assurance software guided by formal specifications.

You will work closely with colleagues in a collaborative environment, while also being confident in managing your own tasks independently. Attention to detail, problem-solving capability, and a proactive approach to finding effective solutions are key attributes.

Role

Graduate / Junior Embedded Software Engineer

Salary: £35K DOE + Benefits

Location: Derbyshire

Skills & Experience

Personal Competencies

• Minimum ~3 years coding experience (including university, personal, or project work - recent graduates are welcome).
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to high quality standards.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills; able to work independently when required.
• Good judgement and ability to perform effectively under pressure.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to take ownership of tasks.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance.

Required Technical Skills / Qualifications

• Minimum 2: 1 honours degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience with embedded software - through university modules, personal projects, or platforms such as Raspberry Pi or Arduino.
• Strong knowledge of C and C++ programming.
• Experience with bare-metal or RTOS-based systems.
• Ability to use debugging tools and techniques.
• Understanding of object-oriented and low-level programming, including memory management and device driver concepts.

Desirable Technical Skills

• JTAG / ETM debugging experience.
• C# development experience.
• Experience with Rust or Ada SPARK.
• Familiarity with Cryptol or SAW.
• Scripting languages (Ruby, Groovy, Python, Perl, Bash, PowerShell).
• Experience developing applications for Windows.
• Knowledge of computer network security and vulnerability analysis.
• Understanding of IP standards.
• Multi-threaded RTOS and bare-metal embedded development.
• Experience with ARM-based CPU / MPU architectures.

Who We're Looking For

Graduates or early-career software engineers with a relevant STEM degree and a strong interest in embedded systems and cyber security.

There are also Senior and Principal roles available.

What You Can Expect

• Structured professional development and clear progression opportunities.
• The chance to contribute to industry-leading security and cryptographic technologies.
• A supportive, collaborative team environment with an assigned mentor.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave
• Company pension
• 4× death in service
• EV car scheme and charging
• Benefits platform (launching soon)
• On-the-job training and external courses to develop your technical skills.

Interview Process

• 20‑minute video discussion
• In‑person interview with a C/C++ coding test

Conditions

Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be British citizens and able to obtain and maintain DV security clearance.