Software Engineer - Data Distribution Service (RTI DDS)

Electus Recruitment Solutions; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension contributions up to 14%

Paid overtime opportunities

Up to 15 flexi‑leave days

Excellent on-site facilities

Job summary

Electus Recruitment Solutions is seeking an experienced Senior DDS Software Engineer for an on-site Bristol role. You will design and implement DDS-based communications architectures for complex Air Defence systems, defining interfaces and data models across weapon-system and subsystem levels.

You’ll mentor teams and help resolve system integration challenges. The role requires real-time distributed systems expertise, familiarity with DDS tools (RTI Connext, OpenDDS, Fast DDS or Cyclone DDS),

Qualifications

• Experience with DDS-based architectures in real-time distributed systems.
• Ability to design data models and interfaces for distributed components.
• Strong software architecture and leadership for complex defence systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop DDS-based communications architectures for real-time systems.
• Define IDL at weapon-system and subsystem levels.
• Contribute to data models and interfaces for distributed software components.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to development teams.
• Resolve system-level integration and communication challenges.

Skills

DDS

IDL

Real-time

Publish/subscribe

Software architecture

Mentoring

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.

• 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.