Software Engineer

Meritus; Bristol; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence engineering organisation in Bristol is seeking an experienced Software Engineer for a 12-month contract. You'll work on cutting-edge tools supporting the next generation of Air Defence Systems. The role requires strong experience with Cameo or IBM Rhapsody and a solid background in C/C++. The position offers a competitive rate of £65 per hour and the possibility of a 4-day work week.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with Cameo or IBM Rhapsody is mandatory.
• Solid background in C or C++ development is essential.
• Experience with CI/CD tools such as GitLab and Docker.

Responsibilities

• Designing and developing new software tools for defence projects.
• Working closely with CI/CD specialists to integrate tools.
• Supporting the full software lifecycle from requirements to testing.

Skills

Experience with Cameo or IBM Rhapsody

C or C++ development

Full software development lifecycle

Understanding of DDS middleware

Familiarity with safety-related standards

CI/CD tools (GitLab, Docker)

Collaborative approach

Job description

Software Engineer (Cameo/Rhapsody) – Bristol – £65 per hour (Umbrella)

12-month contract | SC clearance required | Fully onsite | 4-day week available

A leading defence engineering organisation is looking for an experienced Software Engineer to join the team in Bristol. You'll be working on cutting‑edge tools and software architectures that support the next generation of Air Defence Systems.

This is a hands‑on role in a highly technical environment. You'll develop new engineering tools, work closely with CI/CD pipeline teams, and help shape the way complex systems are designed, integrated and verified. If you enjoy solving problems, improving engineering workflows and working across disciplines, this is a great opportunity.

What you'll be doing

• Designing and developing new software tools and architectures used across major defence projects.
• Working closely with CI/CD specialists to integrate your tools into automated pipelines.
• Explaining how tools should be used and monitoring their effectiveness across engineering teams.
• Supporting the full software lifecycle, from requirements and design through to integration and testing.
• Collaborating with systems engineers, software engineers, integration teams and project leads.

What you'll need

Essential

• Strong experience with Cameo or IBM Rhapsody (mandatory).
• Solid background in C or C++ development.
• Experience working across the full software development lifecycle.
• Understanding of DDS middleware and real‑time operating systems.
• Familiarity with safety‑related standards such as DefStan 00‑55, DO‑178C, or IEC 61508.
• Experience with CI/CD tools such as GitLab and Docker.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work across multi‑disciplinary project teams.

Nice to have

• Exposure to ontologies or domain‑specific languages.
• Knowledge of defence or aerospace environments.

Contract details

Location: Bristol (fully onsite)

Clearance: Active SC clearance required to start

Duration: 12 months, with strong potential for extension

Rate: £65 per hour (Umbrella)

Working pattern: Standard onsite working or optional 4‑day compressed week

Interview: One‑stage virtual panel