Software Development Engineer

Our Client based in Basildon are looking for an experienced Software Development Engineer to join a specialist engineering team delivering secure Windows-based software systems for safety-critical and defence-related applications. This is a Temporary position until April 2026 with the possibility of extension. This role would suit a self-motivated engineer who is comfortable joining a project mid-stream, investigating existing code, and contributing to the next phase of development within a structured software lifecycle. You will receive an initial onboarding period, followed by hybrid working with occasional on-site access to specialist test hardware. Key Responsibilities * Develop and maintain Windows applications using C#/.NET * Contribute to secure communications software, including WCF-based components * Review, understand, and reverse engineer existing code where documentation may be limited * Work within a formal software development lifecycle (requirements, design, implementation, verification, compliance) * Participate in design reviews and technical discussions * Collaborate with other engineers using iterative / Agile-style development * Ensure software meets quality, safety, and user expectations Essential Skills & Experience * Strong professional experience in C# and .NET * Working knowledge of C++ (reading and understanding existing code) * Experience with Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) * Proven ability to investigate and understand legacy or in-flight codebases * Familiarity with software development lifecycles, ideally within aerospace, defence, or other regulated environments * Comfortable working to coding standards, processes, and documentation requirements * Self-driven, proactive, and able to work with minimal supervision Desirable Experience * Background in aerospace, defence, or safety-critical systems * WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) for UI development * Agile tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps * Configuration management tools * Exposure to embedded or systems-level software Security Requirements * Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC) * UK national or NATO dual national required Meridian Business Support is a recruitment specialist acting on behalf of our client as an Employment Business for this vacancy