Junior Embedded Software Engineer

Vantage Consulting; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in the UK is seeking a Graduate / Early-Career Embedded Software Engineer to join their team focused on developing innovative cyber security solutions. Ideal candidates will have a 2:1 degree in Computer Science and strong programming skills in C and C++. The role offers a competitive salary starting at £35K along with comprehensive benefits. Applicants must be British citizens due to security clearance requirements.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual leave

Company pension

Death in service

EV car scheme

Training and development courses

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years coding experience, including university and personal projects.
• Strong knowledge of embedded software and C/C++ programming.
• Ability to obtain DV security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test embedded systems focused on cyber security.
• Work collaboratively and manage tasks independently.
• Contribute to industry-leading security and cryptographic technologies.

Skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Time-management

Education

2:1 honours degree in Computer Science or related discipline

Tools

C

C++

Embedded systems tools

Job description

Graduate / Early-Career Embedded Software Engineer

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.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • 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.
• A two-stage interview process:
  1. 20-minute video discussion
  2. 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.