Embedded Software Engineer

Embedded Software Engineer Location: 3 days/week in London Contract Length: 12 Months Day Rate: £50-65 per hour Security Clearance: SC Eligible or Active SC Preferred Start Date: ASAP Overview I am seeking an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to support the development of advanced defence radar and surveillance systems for a high-profile programme within the defence sector. This contract role will focus on real-time embedded software development for radar processing platforms, sensor interfaces, and mission-critical electronic systems. The successful engineer will work closely with systems, FPGA, DSP, and electronics teams to deliver software for complex embedded hardware environments. Key Responsibilities Design and develop embedded software in C/C++ for radar and sensor systems Develop low-level drivers and hardware abstraction layers for custom embedded platforms Work on real-time software running on ARM-based and DSP-enabled systems Interface with FPGA teams for high-speed data transfer and hardware control Support radar signal acquisition, timing, synchronisation, and control functionality Develop software for communication interfaces including SPI, UART, Ethernet, PCIe, and CAN Debug complex hardware/software integration issues using JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analysers Participate in system integration, verification, and environmental testing activities Produce clear technical documentation aligned with defence engineering standards Required Skills & Experience Strong commercial experience in embedded software engineering within defence, aerospace, or high-reliability systems Expert-level C/C++ development skills Experience with RTOS environments such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, Integrity, or embedded Linux Experience working closely with FPGA or DSP teams Strong understanding of embedded hardware architectures and board bring-up Experience debugging low-level embedded systems Familiarity with high-speed communication interfaces and real-time data handling Experience working within regulated or safety-critical engineering environments Ability to obtain or hold UK SC clearance Desirable Experience Radar systems or sensor-processing experience Digital signal processing (DSP) RF systems or electronic warfare knowledge Experience with Xilinx or Intel FPGA platforms DO-178C, DEF STAN, or IEC standards exposure Python scripting or automated test frameworks CI/CD pipelines and embedded Linux build systems