Principal Software Engineer

We’re hiring a Principal Software Engineer to join a global technology business based in Buckinghamshire. The company designs and builds high-precision laboratory instruments used in science, healthcare, and environmental testing. Please note: NO SPONSORSHIP IS PROVIDED WITH THIS POSITION What You’ll Do as a Principal Software Engineer: * Lead the design and architecture of software systems across the full stack, from embedded C/C++ firmware controlling hardware to high-level C#/.NET applications. * Mentor and guide a multidisciplinary team of software, firmware, and electronics engineers. * Apply physics-based thinking to develop algorithms that turn raw sensor data into meaningful scientific results. * Work closely with hardware teams to bring up new boards, debug complex opto-electronic systems, and integrate hardware with software seamlessly. * Drive innovation in next-generation products, particularly in areas like thermal analysis and materials characterisation. * Support manufacturing and production while collaborating cross-functionally on high-level software development. Requirement for a Principal Software Engineer: * Degree in Physics, Mathematics, or Engineering with a strong physics component. * 10+ years of commercial software experience with a proven track record of delivering complex systems. * Expert-level skills in C#/.NET and strong experience in C/C++ for embedded systems/firmware. * Experience leading or mentoring multidisciplinary technical teams. * Background in scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, or similar environments where software interacts with hardware. * Strong understanding of communication protocols (I2C, SPI, USB, Ethernet) and the ability to read schematics/datasheets for development and debugging. * Experience defining software standards, driving Agile processes, and implementing CI/CD pipelines