Staff Embedded Software Engineer (m/f/d), Safety & Security Platform

Companies; Gravesend; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

27 vacation days + tenure increase

Pension contribution

Learning & development support

Employee discounts

Hybrid working

Salary bands & leveling

Relocation support

Job summary

ARX is seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, Platform R&D (Safety & Security) to provide technical leadership in developing safety- and security-critical platform software for defence products.

You will lead BSP integration, boot, kernel configuration, drivers, and platform security across embedded Linux, QNX, or equivalent systems, ensuring real-time determinism and secure updates throughout the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Proficient in C/C++ for safety- or security-critical platforms.
• Experience with RTOS-based embedded systems (e.g., embedded Linux or QNX).
• Strong hardware integration and driver development background.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the safety- and security-critical platform software architecture.
• Adapt and integrate vendor BSPs for bespoke hardware and board bring-up.
• Develop kernel-level components, drivers, secure boot, and trust roots.
• Validate high-bandwidth sensor interfaces and CAN networking for reliable operation.

Skills

C/C++

RTOS experience

Embedded Linux / QNX

Hardware integration

Security & safety-critical

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/SE

Tools

Yocto/OpenEmbedded

Buildroot

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, Platform R&D (Safety & Security), to provide technical leadership in developing safety- and security-critical platform software for defence products.

You will build the dependable software foundation beneath the application and middleware layers, working closely with hardware and the operating system. Your responsibilities will include vendor BSP integration, boot, kernel configuration and extension, device drivers, board bring-up, hardware interfaces, and platform security across embedded Linux, QNX, or equivalent systems. You will adapt BSPs to bespoke hardware, validate platform behaviour, resolve complex integration issues, and support high-bandwidth camera interfaces such as GMSL, including frame transport, timing, and diagnostics.

This hands-on leadership role requires setting technical direction, solving complex platform-level challenges, and acting as a trusted authority across software, hardware, systems, test, and security.

What You’ll Build

• Own and evolve the foundational architecture of safety- and security-critical embedded platform software, spanning the BSP, boot chain, kernel, and operating-system configuration.
• Integrate and adapt vendor BSPs for bespoke hardware, driving initial board bring-up, peripheral initialization, and complex hardware-software integration.
• Design and implement kernel-level components, device drivers, secure-boot chains, hardware roots of trust, and reliable software update and recovery mechanisms.
• Validate and integrate high-bandwidth sensor interfaces (e.g., GMSL, MIPI CSI-2), embedded networking, and CAN protocols to ensure reliable data transport, synchronization, and fault handling.
• Optimize platform software for real-time determinism, reliability, and mission availability under strict system and resource constraints.
• Translate system, safety, and security standards into verifiable, fully traceable platform-software designs and objective evidence across the development lifecycle.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership, set engineering direction, and mentor cross-functional teams across software, hardware, test, and security disciplines.

What You Bring

• 10+ years of professional experience developing low-level platform software (BSPs, bootloaders, kernels, device drivers) for safety- or security-critical systems in regulated sectors (e.g., defence, aerospace, or marine).
• Strong C and Modern C++ programming skills, supported by production experience with real-time or safety-oriented operating systems like embedded Linux or QNX (including build toolchains like Yocto/Open Embedded or Buildroot).
• Deep understanding of real-time systems concepts (scheduling, IPC, memory management, determinism) and hands-on experience with hardware integration, high-bandwidth sensor interfaces, embedded networking, and CAN.
• Experience with secure boot, trusted execution, hardware roots of trust, TPMs or HSMs, signed updates, rollback and recovery mechanisms.
• Proven ability to debug complex hardware-software integration issues at the platform level, act proactively, and communicate technical trade-offs clearly as a trusted Staff-level engineering authority.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Professional fluency in English (must-have); German language proficiency is a strong plus.

Please note: You do not need to meet every single requirement to apply. We welcome motivated candidates who are eager to grow into the role and develop their expertise further.

What We Offer

Join a mission-driven European defense tech company at a pivotal stage of growth, where you can help shape meaningful technology, take ownership early, and grow with the business!

• Competitive compensation package including a bonus opportunity
• 27 vacation days to start, increasing with tenure up to 30 days
• Employer-supported pension contribution
• Learning & development support and team events budget
• Employee discounts and flexible benefits budget via Probonio
• Hybrid working setup depending on role and team needs
• Structured salary bands, levelling framework, and bi-annual development conversations
• Referral bonus program, dog-friendly office, and relocation support where applicable

About Us

ARX is a dual-use technology company that specializes in developing autonomous unmanned systems and sensors for the European defence sector. Our dual-use unmanned ground systems and sensors assist NATO Armies and civilian first responders in tackling their most challenging problems by providing them with training and information to make better decisions and take effective actions in life-or-death situations. As our team continues to expand rapidly, we are seeking motivated candidates who are excited to work in a highly energetic, creative, and innovative team dedicated to developing autonomous systems for challenging environments. We operate in a dynamic sector where collaboration, sharing innovative ideas, and developing novel problem-solving strategies are ingrained in our work culture. If you are passionate about overcoming challenges that have a real impact on the security of our democracies, to join ARX and help shape the future of dual-use technology! ARX is an equal-opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

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