Software Engineer - SC Cleared

Searchability; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Searchability is seeking a Cyber Software Engineer in Manchester to develop secure software for high-assurance cyber capabilities across defence and national security environments.

The role emphasizes Python, with knowledge of C++ and secure development. You will contribute to OT cyber programmes, design and verification, and collaborate with engineers and users in a classified setting.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial Python software engineering experience.
• Experience in secure, high-assurance, defence, cyber, safety-critical or similar environments.
• Understanding of secure coding practices and software design principles.
• Confidence working on-site within classified environments.
• Active SC, DV or eDV clearance, or eligibility to hold the required clearance.

Responsibilities

• Developing secure, high-assurance software, primarily using Python.
• Contributing to software development using C++ where required.
• Working on operational technology (OT) cyber programmes.
• Contributing to secure system architecture, design, implementation and verification.
• Collaborating with cyber engineers, systems engineers and operational users.
• Supporting software throughout its full lifecycle within classified environments.

Skills

Python

C++

Golang

Rust

Job description

Cyber Software Engineer

Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum
Location: Manchester
Employment type: Permanent
Clearance: Active SC, MOD DV or eDV clearance, or eligibility to hold

The opportunity

We are looking for a Cyber Software Engineer to join a highly technical engineering team delivering high-assurance cyber capabilities across UK defence and national security environments.

This role offers the opportunity to work on operational technology (OT) cyber projects involving real systems and real users. You will develop secure, robust software in environments where reliability, performance and assurance genuinely matter.

We are particularly interested in engineers with strong Python development experience, alongside knowledge of C++ and secure software engineering.

What you will be doing

You will contribute to the design, development and assurance of security-critical software used in demanding operational environments.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing secure, high-assurance software, primarily using Python
• Contributing to software development using C++ where required
• Working on operational technology (OT) cyber programmes
• Contributing to secure system architecture, design, implementation and verification
• Collaborating with cyber engineers, systems engineers and operational users
• Supporting software throughout its full lifecycle within classified environments

What we are looking for

We are looking for a software engineer with strong commercial Python experience and an interest in cyber security, secure development or other high-assurance environments.

Essential experience:

• Strong commercial Python software engineering experience
• Experience in secure, high-assurance, defence, cyber, safety-critical or similar environments
• A good understanding of secure coding practices and software design principles
• Confidence working on-site within classified environments
• Active SC, DV or eDV clearance, or eligibility to hold the required clearance

Desirable experience:

• Commercial experience with C++
• Experience with Golang and/or Rust
• Cyber security qualifications, such as CEH, OSCP or similar
• Vulnerability research and/or reverse engineering experience
• Exposure to OT environments, embedded systems or low-level development
• Experience working with MOD or national security customers

Why join?

You will work on genuinely operational cyber projects with real-world impact, alongside highly technical specialists in a high-trust engineering environment.

The role offers:

• Meaningful work supporting UK defence and national security
• Long-term programmes providing stability, purpose and career development
• Exposure to technically challenging, security-critical projects
• Collaboration with cyber specialists, systems engineers and operational users
• A London-based hybrid working arrangement with a strong on-site engineering culture

If you are an experienced Python engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and wants to apply your skills to high-assurance cyber capabilities, we would be keen to hear from you.

Please note that the original role description specifies C++ as an essential skill. This version has intentionally repositioned Python as the primary language and C++ as secondary, in line with your updated requirement.