Principal Software Engineer

BAE Systems.; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 76,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in Chelmsford is seeking a Principal Software Engineer. You will manage software requirements and designs while leading a team delivering software solutions. The ideal candidate has a solid engineering background, strong programming skills, and experience with software lifecycle models. This role offers competitive benefits, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for career advancement.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Discounted health and lifestyle benefits

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• Considerable experience in high-level design methodology.
• Experience with software lifecycle models like Waterfall and Agile.
• Knowledge of ISO/IEC/IEE 12207 software standards.

Responsibilities

• Derive and maintain software requirements from systems requirements.
• Produce and maintain software design to meet requirements.
• Act as Engineering technical lead for software solutions.

Skills

High level programming language

UML knowledge

Software lifecycle experience

Configuration management

Ada95 knowledge

Education

BEng/BSc in Computer Science or relevant engineering/numerate subject

Job description

Principal Software Engineer

Great Baddow – We offer flexible working arrangements – Part time & accruing hours available. Please let us know if you would like to discuss these options.

Salary

Up to £75,900 (dependent on skills and experience).

What you’ll be doing

• Derive and maintain a set of software requirements from a baseline set of systems requirements.
• Produce and maintain a software design to meet a set of software requirements.
• Use a software design to produce a deliverable software solution.
• Undertake peer reviews or checking/verification of peers' solutions across Maritime Services.
• Undertake technical reviews, verify and authorise software engineering designs.
• Act as an Engineering technical lead for a software solution at a sub-system level.
• Maintain a software solution to address reported defects and/or add new functionality.
• Support the development of individuals and teams to enhance skills and competencies.
• Produce or assist in the creation of software estimates for sub-systems.

Your skills and experiences

• Good experience of using at least one high level programming language.
• Considerable experience of using a high-level design methodology – knowledge of UML.
• Strong experience of all aspects of the software lifecycle and good knowledge of software lifecycle models (e.g. Waterfall, Agile).
• Have a BEng/BSc in Computer Science or other relevant Engineering or Numerate subject (technology, engineering or science related discipline).
• Have good knowledge of appropriate software standards (e.g. ISO/IEC/IEE 12207).
• Knowledge of Ada95.
• Have a CEng or equivalent level of capability or working towards CEng status.
• Have a comprehensive understanding of configuration management and experience of a configuration management tool.
• An understanding of model-based techniques is advantageous.

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 Sampson Radar Software team

The Sampson Radar Software team is a 30 plus personnel group that provides support and capability upgrades to the Royal Navy and their products. This role will deliver software products to the customer as part of a team delivering enhancements over the next 10 years, as well as providing ongoing support to existing products. You will have the opportunity to develop and enhance your skills and knowledge, with the potential to lead into more senior positions within a global business.

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

10th December 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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