Principal / Specialist Engineer : Application Software

RecruitPro Solutions; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic tech-focused aerospace company is seeking a Principal/Specialist Engineer in Cape Town. In this role, you will lead the development of operator-facing, mission-critical applications. Candidates must have a Bachelor's in Computer Science or Engineering and 5–10 years of relevant software development experience, particularly in programming languages like C++ and Java. You'll contribute to a collaborative environment where software meets user requirements and engineering processes are improved continuously.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years’ experience in software development roles is required.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages like C++ and Java is essential.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and issue tracking tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of application software for command and control systems.
• Take ownership of feature development from analysis to testing.
• Perform both front-end and back-end development.

Skills

General-purpose programming languages (e.g., C++, Java)

Scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell)

Version control tools (Git, Subversion, Perforce)

Object-oriented programming

Agile development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

Git

Jira

Job description

Are you a passionate and innovative software engineer looking for your next challenge? A dynamic tech-focused aerospace company is seeking a Principal / Specialist Engineer to lead the development of operator-facing, mission-critical applications. This is a unique opportunity to work on safety-critical and mission-critical software systems within a highly collaborative engineering environment.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the development of application software used in command and control (C2) and ISR systems.
• Take full ownership of features from requirement analysis to implementation and testing.
• Perform both front‑end and back‑end development.
• Research and understand new technical domains to align software with user requirements.
• Support production efforts and assist in creating design, testing, and verification artefacts.
• Implement engineering processes and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide occasional support across broader engineering and company activities.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering (BSc / BEng).
• 5–10 years’ experience in relevant software development roles.
• Strong proficiency in general‑purpose programming languages (e.g., C++, Java).
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Solid understanding of object‑oriented programming and software design patterns.
• Experience with version control tools (Git, Subversion, Perforce).
• Agile development exposure and familiarity with issue tracking tools (e.g., Jira).
• Advantageous: Experience in C++11+, XML / JSON / YAML, and holding a Master’s degree.