Software Developer

PA Consulting; Royston; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

PA Consulting seeks engineers in the United Kingdom to lead system-level development and implement designs across multiple domains, including motion control, digital audio, and software defined radio. You will work closely with clients and our wider team to deliver end-to-end solutions from concept to deployment.

Applicants should have a strong academic background, a degree in software engineering or related fields, and experience with Python, C, and C++.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background and degree in a relevant field.
• Proven software architecture and design implementation experience.
• Experience with Python, C, and C++.

Responsibilities

• Develop system-level solutions and implement concepts.
• Collaborate with clients and the wider team.
• Own development lifecycle from concept to delivery.
• Contribute to motion control, digital audio, SDR, and high-speed networking projects.
• Tackle challenges from first principles with hands-on approach.

Skills

Communication skills

Security clearance eligibility

On-site readiness

Education

Degree in software engineering or related field

Tools

CI/CD

Git

Jira

Linux

Windows

Python

Security

Job description

Salary: £52,000 - 92,000 per year

Requirements

• We expect experience to be reinforced by a strong academic background.
• A good degree in software engineering or a related subject from a leading university.
• A proven track record of developing software architectures and implementing designs using a professional workflow.
• Well versed in a breadth of programming languages such as Python, C, and C++.
• Comfortable using common software development toolchains such as Git, Jira, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience developing applications for a range of operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile.
• Exposure to the full product lifecycle from concept generation through to product release, including demonstrable experience delivering designs into service.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex engineering concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Confidence operating within the Defence and Security sector.
• The ability to gain UK security clearance if not already acquired.
• In practice, this requires sole UK nationality.
• Enthusiasm to be onsite at least four days a week.

Responsibilities

• Develop solutions at the system level and carry out the implementation work required to realise concepts.
• Work closely with clients and our wider team.
• Take responsibility for the whole development lifecycle for clients, from concept through to delivery.
• Contribute to current projects involving motion control, digital audio, software defined radio, and high-speed networking.
• Work through challenges from first principles in a hands-on way.
• Bring energy and enthusiasm to unfamiliar challenges and innovate freely.
• Explain complex engineering concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Help deliver solutions through to deployment where they have real impact.
• Collaborate and share ideas and knowledge across different sectors.

Technologies

• CI/CD
• Git
• Support
• JIRA
• Linux
• Mobile
• Python
• Security
• Windows

More

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists with deep expertise across consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands. We offer a career in consulting, not just a job, with professional development opportunities, tailored training, a collaborative culture, and meaningful work. We support physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being, and our benefits include private healthcare for you and your family, 25 days annual leave plus a half day on Christmas Eve, the option to buy 5 additional days, a generous pension scheme, community and charity initiatives, an annual performance-based bonus, share ownership, and tax-efficient benefits.

last updated 37 week of 2026