Senior Embedded Software Engineer

QinetiQ; Ashford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched pension

Generous holiday

Private medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Employee discount portal

Armed Forces Covenant support

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

QinetiQ in Ashford is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to own embedded software across products from requirements to release. You will contribute to design decisions, support junior engineers and modernise legacy systems using current approaches.

Day-to-day work focuses on real-time, safety-critical software in C on bare‑metal and RTOS platforms, with UK and overseas field trials as needed.

Qualifications

• Embedded software experience for real‑time systems.
• Experience with low‑level drivers and hardware interfaces.
• Ability to deliver across the full product lifecycle.
• Experience diagnosing complex issues in embedded systems.
• Proficient with Git version control.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test embedded software from requirements through to production release.
• Maintain and modernise existing products and systems, including upgrades.
• Produce high‑quality technical documentation in line with processes.
• Support system integration, fault diagnosis and issue resolution across software and hardware.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to mid‑level and junior engineers.
• Support field trials and testing in the UK and overseas as required.

Skills

Embedded C

Hardware integration

Full lifecycle

Git

Education

Degree in Software/Electronic Engineering

Tools

RTOS

Job description

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting‑edge defence technology to ground‑breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Senior Embedded Software Engineer at our Ashford site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you will take ownership of embedded software development across a range of complex products, working from initial requirements through to implementation, testing and in‑service support. You will play a senior technical role within project teams, contributing to design decisions, supporting more junior engineers and helping to modernise legacy systems using more contemporary approaches.

Day‑to‑day, you’ll work on full‑lifecycle embedded software development, primarily focused on real‑time, safety‑critical systems written in C and running on bare‑metal and RTOS‑based platforms.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing, implementing and testing embedded software from requirements through to production release
• Working across new development and maintenance of existing products, including system upgrades and modernisation
• Producing and maintaining high‑quality technical documentation in line with internal processes
• Supporting system integration, fault diagnosis and issue resolution across software and hardware
• Providing technical guidance and mentoring to mid‑level and junior engineers
• Supporting field trials and test activities in the UK and overseas as required

Essential experience of the Senior Embedded Software Engineer:

• Strong experience developing embedded software in C for real‑time systems
• Experience working close to hardware, including low‑level drivers and interfaces
• Proven ability to deliver work across the full product lifecycle
• Experience diagnosing and resolving complex technical issues in embedded systems
• Strong attention to detail with a calm, methodical approach to problem solving
• Experience working with version control systems such as Git

Essential qualifications for the Senior Embedded Software Engineer:

• Degree in Software, Electronic Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at our Ashford site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week.

• Set working times are Mon‑Thurs 8:30-5:00PM & Fri 8:30-1:30PM
• Occasional travel to testing ranges and customer sites will be expected

Ashford

This role is based at QinetiQ’s Ashford site, home to QinetiQ Target Systems. The facility combines design, manufacturing, testing and trials support, offering engineers the opportunity to see products through the full lifecycle, from concept and design to live operational use.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

Our Recruitment Process

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)