Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Cento; Manchester; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Cento is seeking a hands-on senior embedded engineer to lead architecture decisions and work across the full product lifecycle. You will develop real-time C/C++ firmware, build drivers, and optimise RTOS performance while mentoring junior engineers.

The role demands strong hardware skills, device driver experience, and familiarity with security and EMC requirements. This is a senior, ownership-driven position within an expanding R&D team.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in embedded electronics engineering.
• Expert C/C++ with common toolchains.
• Strong experience with ARM Cortex-M and microcontrollers.
• RTOS and low-power design experience.
• Knowledge of embedded security and encryption.
• Unit testing, Git and CI/CD experience.
• Solid hardware skills: schematics, debugging, prototyping.

Responsibilities

• Lead embedded architecture and system-level design for new and existing products.
• Develop real-time C/C++ firmware under timing/memory constraints.
• Build peripheral drivers and bootloaders.
• Configure and optimise RTOS scheduling, memory and ISRs.
• Lead board bring-up, hardware debugging and validation.
• Ensure designs meet security, reliability and EMC requirements.
• Run design reviews and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

C/C++

ARM Cortex-M

RTOS

Unit testing

Git & CI/CD

Hardware debugging

Schematic capture

Altium

CAN/RS-485/TCP-IP

BLE/Wi‑Fi

Tools

GCC (GNU Compiler)

IAR/Keil

Job description

A growing international security technology manufacturer is expanding its R&D team. With several new products in development, they need a senior embedded engineer to lead architecture decisions, get hands-on with hardware and help shape the next generation of their technology.

The role

• Lead embedded architecture and system-level design for new and existing products
• Develop real-time C/C++ firmware under tight timing and memory constraints
• Build peripheral drivers (SPI, I2C, UART, USB, DMA, Ethernet) and bootloaders
• Configure and optimise RTOS scheduling, memory and ISRs
• Lead board bring-up, hardware debugging and validation
• Ensure designs meet security, reliability and EMC requirements
• Run design reviews and mentor junior engineers

You’ll have

• 7+ years in embedded electronics engineering
• Expert C/C++ with GCC, IAR or Keil toolchains
• Strong experience with ARM Cortex-M, STM32, ESP32 or NXP processors
• RTOS and low-power design experience (FreeRTOS ideal)
• Knowledge of embedded security and encryption
• Unit testing, Git and CI/CD experience
• Solid hardware skills: schematics, Altium, debugging and prototyping
• Familiarity with CAN, RS-485, TCP/IP, BLE or Wi‑Fi

This is a genuinely hands-on senior role with real ownership, working across the full product lifecycle alongside an experienced, collaborative team.