Senior Software Engineer C++

Understanding Recruitment Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Understanding Recruitment Ltd is assisting in the search for a Senior C++ Software Engineer focused on AI and engineering software in Central London. The role combines production-grade C++ development with architecture ownership, working closely with researchers and engineers in a small, highly technical team.

You will optimize performance, shape interfaces between the computational engine and Python backend, and translate research prototypes into scalable product capabilities.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial C++ experience delivering production software.
• Experience owning substantial components or end-to-end software products.
• Sound architectural judgement around interfaces, testing, and performance.
• Ability to work through ambiguous problems and explain trade-offs.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop production software in C++, collaborating with researchers and engineers.
• Shape the platform architecture with clear interfaces between computational engine, Python backend, CAD integrations and UI.
• Turn research prototypes into reliable, testable product capabilities.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and improve efficiency, including GPU execution where relevant.
• Reduce complexity to ease feature introductions and customer integrations.
• Translate evolving product and research needs into practical technical decisions from design to implementation.

Skills

C++

Production software

Architecture

Performance

Python

Team collaboration

Tools

CUDA

Job description

Senior C++ Software Engineer - AI & Engineering Software

Location: Central London, primarily office-based with some flexibility

We're partnering with an AI startup building software to help engineers design and develop physical products faster. Combining machine learning with complex engineering software, their platform helps bring new hardware ideas closer to production.

They're looking for a Senior C++ Software Engineer to take ownership of core software as the company moves from research prototypes into customer deployments. This is a hands-on opportunity to shape the architecture, improve performance, and build the foundations of an evolving product.

What you'll be doing

• Design and develop production software in C++, working closely with researchers and software engineers.
• Shape the platform's architecture, defining clear interfaces between its computational engine, Python backend, CAD integrations, and user interface.
• Turn research prototypes into reliable, testable, and maintainable product capabilities.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and improve computational efficiency, including GPU execution where relevant.
• Reduce complexity in the codebase and make it easier to introduce new features and customer integrations.
• Translate evolving product and research requirements into practical technical decisions, taking work from initial design through implementation.

What we're looking for

• Strong commercial C++ experience and a track record of delivering high‑quality production software.
• Experience owning substantial components or building complex software products end‑to‑end.
• Sound architectural judgement around interfaces, testing, performance, and technical debt.
• Confidence working through ambiguous problems and explaining the trade‑offs behind your decisions.
• The ability to work across different technologies, with Python experience particularly useful.
• A self‑motivated approach and enthusiasm for working closely with a small, highly technical team.

Experience that would stand out

• Game engines, graphics, rendering, CAD, computational geometry, simulation, robotics, or scientific software.
• GPU programming, CUDA, or other performance‑sensitive computing.
• Integrating components written in different languages.
• Taking research‑led software into production.
• A personal interest in hardware, engineering, or building things.

You don't need a PhD or a mechanical engineering background. We're interested in engineers who can demonstrate strong coding skills, thoughtful technical decisions, and ownership of software that works in practice.

Why join?

You'll have significant influence over the codebase and technical direction at an early stage, working alongside researchers tackling challenging engineering problems. There's scope to grow into broader architectural ownership as the product and team expand.