Embedded Systems Engineer

Copello are seeking an experienced Embedded Systems Engineer for a 3–6 month contract with a leading defence organisation based in Buckinghamshire. This is a technically challenging role within a highly regulated environment, supporting the development of advanced systems, ideally within an avionics or wider defence context. The successful candidate will combine strong hands-on embedded development expertise with the ability to lead and coordinate a small engineering team. This role is inside IR35 and requires candidates to be eligible for SC clearance. Key Responsibilities * Lead and manage a small embedded systems engineering team, providing technical direction and oversight * Design, develop and debug embedded software for ARM-based SoCs * Develop and maintain secure boot chains and low-level board support packages * Work across bare-metal and RTOS environments * Support integration, verification and validation activities within a defence framework * Perform hardware bring-up, debugging and fault analysis using JTAG/SWD tools * Collaborate with systems, hardware and test engineers to ensure robust system performance * Ensure compliance with relevant defence and safety standards Essential Skills & Experience * Proven experience within the defence sector (ideally avionics) * Strong background in embedded systems development * Experience with ARM-based SoCs * In-depth knowledge of boot chains and secure boot processes * Experience with ARM Cortex-M (including TrustZone) * Hands-on experience with JTAG/SWD debugging * Experience working with STM32MP1 and/or STM32MP2 platforms * Development experience in bare-metal and RTOS (ROTS) environments * Prior team leadership or technical management experience * Strong problem-solving and debugging skills Desirable Experience * Avionics systems development * Secure embedded design principles * Familiarity with safety-critical development standards Due to the nature of the project candidates will be required be able to work onsite 4 days a week and will require valid SC or eligibility for SC clearance. Role is inside IR35 and is paying a flexible rate depending on experience