Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Apera; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Apera is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer for an initial 6‑month contract. The role focuses on mission‑critical software across complex embedded platforms, with high autonomy and close hardware collaboration.

You will design and maintain embedded software for flight and ground systems, ranging from Embedded Linux to bare‑metal. Expect hands‑on debugging, real‑time challenges, and coordination with electronics and systems teams across safety‑critical environments.

Qualifications

• Experience in embedded software development.
• Strong C/C++ skills.
• Experience with Embedded Linux, RTOS or bare-metal systems.
• Knowledge of real-time and resource-constrained environments.
• Hands-on hardware debugging and integration.
• Background in defence, aerospace or safety-critical domains.
• Exposure to FPGA/VHDL.
• MATLAB/Simulink familiarity.
• Familiar with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, ARINC 429 or MIL-STD-1553.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain embedded software for flight and ground systems.
• Build real-time software across Embedded Linux, RTOS and bare-metal platforms.
• Develop low-level software, drivers and interfaces.
• Support hardware bring-up, integration, debugging and fault isolation.
• Collaborate with electronics, avionics and systems teams.

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++

Real-time systems

Hardware debugging

FPGA/VHDL

MATLAB/Simulink

CAN SPI I2C UART

Tools

RTOS

Embedded Linux

Bare-metal

Job description

Apera is supporting a fast-growing European defence technology business developing advanced hypersonic and aerospace systems. We’re looking for an Embedded Software Engineer to join on an initial 6-month contract, supporting the development of mission-critical software across complex embedded platforms.

This is a strong fit for someone who enjoys high-autonomy engineering environments, working close to the hardware, and solving real-world performance and reliability challenges in safety-critical systems.

What you’ll be doing:

• Designing, developing and maintaining embedded software for flight and ground-based systems


• Building real-time software solutions across Embedded Linux, RTOS and bare-metal platforms


• Developing low-level C/C++ software, drivers, interfaces and middleware


• Supporting hardware bring-up, integration, debugging, fault isolation and optimisation


• Working closely with electronics, avionics and systems engineering teams


• Contributing across software-hardware interfaces in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment

What we are looking for:

• Strong experience in embedded software development


• Solid C/C++ capability


• Experience with Embedded Linux, RTOS and/or bare-metal systems


• Good understanding of real-time systems, deterministic behaviour and resource-constrained environments


• Experience with low-level software, firmware, drivers or hardware interfaces


• Hands‑on hardware debugging and integration experience


• Comfortable working in a high-ownership, fast-moving engineering team


• Background in defence, aerospace or other safety‑critical environments


• Exposure to FPGA/VHDL


• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or model-based development


• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, ARINC 429 or MIL-STD-1553

What’s on offer:

• Initial 6-month contract


• Remote role with 1 week a month in Munich (covered by client)


• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge defence and aerospace technology


• Engineering-led culture with pace, ownership and autonomy

Please note all applicants must be able to obtain UK security clearance.