Software Solution Architect

KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions; Heddon-on-the-Wall; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£70,000 base salary

Annual bonus up to 40%

8% pension

Free breakfast and lunch on-site

35 hour working week

On-site Tue-Thu; Mon & Fri from home

£5,000 relocation allowance

Security clearance supported

Job summary

KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions is seeking a Software Solutions Architect for autonomous and robotic systems in Newcastle upon Tyne. The role is hybrid (on-site Tue-Thu, remote Mon-Fri) with relocation support and a base salary around £70,000 plus bonus.

You will design and govern software architecture and CI/CD across robotics payloads, vision, sensors and digital twins. You will lead architectural decisions in an R&D environment, ensuring scalable, compliant and defeasible software while

Qualifications

• Strong background in software architecture for safety-critical or compliance-driven systems.
• Hands-on experience with C/C++ and Python in Linux real-time environments.
• Experience implementing CI/CD processes for safety-critical software.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement end-to-end software architecture and CI/CD pipelines for remote and autonomous systems.
• Establish unit testing, verification and validation processes and supporting safety-critical standards.
• Integrate software architecture across control systems, computer vision, sensor fusion, simulation and digital twin platforms.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Linux RTOS

ROS/ROS2

OpenCV

Machine Learning

Education

Degree in Software Engineering or Computer Science (2:1 minimum)

Tools

CI/CD tooling

ROS tooling

Job description

Software Solutions Architect - Autonomous & Robotic Systems

Newcastle upon Tyne, Hybrid 3/2, Relocation Package Available

KO2's client is one of the world's leading providers of counter-mine and combat engineering systems, supplying complex autonomous and remote-controlled equipment to military end users globally. With a £3m R&D investment programme underway and an ambitious roadmap to become the world number one for Autonomous Combat Engineering Systems, this is a rare opportunity to join at the architectural heart of that journey.

If this role is not for you but you know someone it would suit, please refer them to KO2 and we will ensure you receive an exceptional incentive for anyone you refer for any role.

The Role

This is a senior, architecture-level position within the R&D function, reporting to the Head of R&D. You will not be the primary coder. You will be the person who designs and governs the software architecture and CI/CD process that the engineering team builds within. You will own the framework that ensures software developed across robotics payloads, vehicle automation, computer vision, sensor integration, digital twins and simulation is scalable, maintainable, compliant and defensible to safety-critical standards.

Critically, this is an R&D environment. You will need the pragmatism to allow a first-off prototype to move forward on the right evidential path without demanding full compliance upfront, while ensuring the architecture and process in place can scale to full qualification when required.

What You Will Be Responsible For

Defining and implementing end-to-end software architecture and CI/CD pipelines for remote and autonomous systems. Establishing unit testing, verification and validation processes, and building the body of evidence required to satisfy defence safety-critical standards. Integrating software architecture across control systems, computer vision, sensor fusion, simulation and digital twin platforms. Supporting final system integration, commissioning and real-world field trials with global military end users.

Skills and Experience Required

You will have a strong background in software architecture design and implementation for safety-critical or compliance-driven systems. Hands-on experience with C/C++ and Python in Linux real-time environments is essential, as is the ability to read electrical schematics and work across hardware and software boundaries. Experience implementing CI/CD processes for safety-critical software is required. Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 is advantageous, and experience with machine learning, OpenCV or CODESYS/PLC environments is beneficial. A background in automotive safety systems, defence, robotics or autonomous vehicle development would be highly relevant. Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent to a 2:1 minimum.

The Package

Basic salary of £70,000, with an annual bonus scheme that realistically returns 30% in a solid year, taking total cash comfortably into six figures, with a maximum potential of 40%. An 8% matched pension, free breakfast and lunch in the on-site canteen daily, and a 35 hour working week with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on-site, Monday and Friday from home, and a half day finish on Fridays. A £5,000 relocation allowance is available for the right candidate. Security clearance is required and will be company supported.

If you are an experienced Software Architect who has governed CI/CD and safety-critical software processes in a complex engineering environment and want to shape something from the ground up in a high-growth defence technology business, we would like to hear from you.

Contact KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions in confidence, specialists in electronics and embedded engineering