Software Engineer - Data Distribution Service (RTI DDS)

Electus Recruitment Solutions; Filton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£2,500 Bonus

Pension 14%

Paid Overtime

Flexi Leave

Parental Leave

On-site facilities

International collaboration

Job summary

Electus Recruitment Solutions is seeking a Senior DDS Software Engineer for Bristol, UK. The role focuses on DDS-based communications architectures across complex Air Defence systems, delivering real-time data exchange and robust interfaces for weapon-system and subsystem integration.

You will work with Software Architects and teams to influence architecture, data models and communication standards while ensuring safety, reliability and high quality software.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with DDS and real-time distributed systems.
• Expertise in designing interfaces and data models for distributed components.
• Strong software architecture and guidance to teams.
• Experience with safety-critical or mission-critical software is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Designing DDS-based communications architectures for real-time systems.
• Constructing IDL at weapon-system and subsystem levels.
• Defining data models and interfaces for distributed components.
• Guiding architecture decisions across weapon-system development.
• Mentoring software teams on design patterns and interfaces.
• Resolving integration challenges across subsystems and architecture.

Skills

DDS

IDL

Real-time distributed systems

Publish/subscribe

Middleware

Data modelling

System architecture

Command & Control

Tools

RTI Connext DDS

OpenDDS

Fast DDS

Cyclone DDS

Job description

Senior DDS Software Engineer - Air Defence -Bristol | 4-5 days on-site

Are you an experienced software engineer with a strong background in DDS, real-time distributed systems and software architecture?

We are recruiting for a highly technical position within a major UK defence programme developing advanced Air Defence systems. This is an opportunity to work at the point where software architecture, communications and complex weapon-system design meet - defining how critical software components and subsystems communicate across a sophisticated distributed system.

Rather than owning a single application or feature, you will work across the wider architecture, helping define the data models, interfaces and design patterns that underpin communication between software components at both subsystem and weapon-system level.

This would suit an experienced DDS engineer, distributed systems specialist or software architect who wants substantial technical ownership while remaining hands-on.

The Role

Working closely with Software Architects, technical leads and subsystem development teams, you will help lead the continued development of a common communications architecture used across complex Air Defence systems.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and developing DDS-based communications architectures for complex real-time systems
• Designing and constructing Interface Definition Language (IDL) at weapon-system and subsystem level
• Defining the data models and interfaces used for communication between distributed software components
• Supporting architecture and design decisions across weapon-system and subsystem development
• Contributing to the definition and design of Command & Control functionality
• Developing reusable component templates, architectural patterns and software design approaches
• Analysing complex data requirements and translating them into robust software interfaces
• Providing technical guidance and mentoring to software development teams
• Working with Software Architects and engineering leads to resolve system-level integration and communication challenges
• Providing technical leadership for the technologies underpinning the wider communications framework
• Ensuring solutions continue to meet demanding standards for safety, reliability and software quality

What We're Looking For

We are particularly interested in engineers with experience in some of the following:

• Data Distribution Service (DDS)
• Interface Definition Language (IDL)
• Real-time distributed software systems
• Publish/subscribe architectures
• Software middleware and inter-process communications
• Data modelling and interface design
• System and subsystem software architecture
• Command & Control systems
• Mission-critical or safety-critical software
• Complex software/system integration
• Technical leadership or mentoring of software engineers

Experience within defence, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, simulation, automotive, industrial control or another complex real-time engineering environment would be particularly relevant.

Experience with technologies such as RTI Connext DDS, OpenDDS, Fast DDS or Cyclone DDS would also be of interest.

You do not necessarily need to come directly from the defence sector. Engineers who have developed sophisticated real-time distributed systems in adjacent industries are strongly encouraged to apply.

Why Consider This Role?

This is an opportunity to move beyond application-level development and influence software at system architecture level.

You will be working on software that sits at the heart of advanced Air Defence capability, tackling difficult engineering problems around real-time communications, distributed data, interoperability, reliability and system integration.

The position also offers:

• Company bonus of up to £2,500
• Employer and employee pension contributions of up to 14% combined
• Paid overtime opportunities
• Up to 15 additional flexi-leave days
• Enhanced parental leave
• Excellent on-site facilities, including subsidised catering and free parking
• Opportunities to collaborate with specialist engineering teams internationally

Location & Working Arrangements

The position is based in Bristol. Due to the classified nature of the programmes involved, you should expect to work on-site 4-5 days per week. This is therefore unlikely to suit candidates seeking predominantly remote working.

Security & Nationality Requirements

Due to the security requirements associated with this position, applicants must hold British citizenship.

Successful candidates will be required to complete the relevant UK Government personnel security screening.

If you are an experienced DDS Engineer, Distributed Systems Engineer, Software Architect or Real-Time Software Engineer looking for a role where you can influence the architecture of some of the UK's most advanced defence systems, we would be keen to hear from you.