Principal Embedded Software Engineer

Principal Embedded Software Engineer (C)

Up to £70,000 depending on experience

About the Role

We have opportunities for ambitious Embedded Software Engineers at Principal level to join our multidisciplinary engineering team at the forefront of additive manufacturing technology.

Our embedded software platforms are central to the control, sensing, communication, monitoring and real-time processing capabilities of our next-generation products. Working within Research & Development, you will contribute to the full product lifecycle, from concept and architecture through verification, release to production, and long-term support.

These are hands-on engineering roles, combining embedded software development, debugging and verification with close collaboration across electronics, FPGA, systems, algorithms and mechanical engineering teams. Depending on experience and grade, you will also provide technical leadership, influence engineering strategy, and mentor developing engineers.

The software frequently interacts with microcontrollers, FPGAs, sensors, communication networks and analogue electronics. As such, a strong appreciation of system-level design and hardware/software interaction is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Embedded Software Development

• Develop embedded software architectures and applications from concept through to production release.
• Design, implement and maintain high-quality C software with a focus on performance, reliability, maintainability and portability.
• Develop low-level drivers, middleware and application-layer software for embedded systems.
• Implement communication interfaces such as SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet and industrial communication protocols.
• Optimise software for real-time performance, memory usage and deterministic behaviour.
• Support product sustainment, issue investigation and software improvements throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop reusable software frameworks and libraries for use across multiple projects and product generations.

Verification & Validation

• Develop robust software verification strategies covering unit, integration and system-level testing.
• Create automated test frameworks and regression test suites.
• Define verification plans, acceptance criteria and coverage objectives.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop, system integration and product validation activities.
• Drive continuous improvement in automated testing, continuous integration and software quality metrics.
• Investigate and resolve complex software and system-level defects.

Systems & Product Development

• Capture, analyse and refine requirements, ensuring clear traceability from customer and system requirements through to implementation and verification.
• Work closely with systems, electronics, FPGA, algorithms and test engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Evaluate and implement control, signal processing and embedded algorithms on target hardware platforms.
• Contribute to safety, reliability and compliance activities, including design assurance and audit-ready engineering evidence.
• Produce and maintain high-quality technical documentation, including software architecture specifications, interface definitions, design descriptions and verification reports.

Strategic & Architectural Leadership

• Define software architecture roadmaps and technical direction across multiple products and programmes.
• Assess and introduce new technologies, tools, frameworks and development methodologies.
• Act as a recognised subject matter expert for embedded software and real-time control systems.
• Influence system-level architecture decisions and long-term technology strategy.

Essential Requirements

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics or a related discipline.
• Strong commercial experience developing embedded software using C.
• Solid understanding of embedded software principles, including:
• Real-time and deterministic systems
• DMA and Interrupt-driven architectures
• Memory management
• State machines
• Communications protocols
• Multi-threaded and event-driven systems
• Experience developing software for microcontroller-based systems.
• Experience debugging software on target hardware using modern debugging tools.
• Understanding of software development lifecycles, version control and testing methodologies.
• Ability to communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Extensive experience leading the architecture and development of complex embedded products.
• Recognised expertise in embedded software, real-time systems and hardware/software integration.
• Track record of influencing engineering strategy and technology direction.
• Strong capability in technical leadership across multiple programmes and engineering disciplines.
• Experience defining engineering processes, software standards and verification methodologies.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience with ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers and associated development environments.
• Knowledge of C++, Python or scripting languages used for automation and testing.
• Experience implementing industrial communication protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus, CANopen or IO-Link.
• Experience with Git, Azure DevOps and CI/CD workflows.
• Familiarity with unit testing frameworks and static analysis tools.
• Understanding of control systems, signal processing and numerical algorithms.
• Knowledge of FPGA-based systems and hardware/software partitioning.
• Experience of high-speed digital electronics, EMC and mixed-signal systems.
• Experience working within regulated or safety-conscious product development environments.

Person Specification

You are a passionate and capable engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and delivering robust, high-quality products.

You combine strong embedded software expertise with a systems-level mindset and are comfortable working across disciplinary boundaries. You communicate clearly, collaborate effectively and take ownership of technical outcomes.

At Principal level, you are a recognised technical authority who influences product architecture, engineering strategy and organisational capability while continuing to engage with hands-on engineering challenges.

You are naturally curious, pragmatic and quality-focused, with a strong appreciation of how embedded software interacts with electronics, FPGA technology, mechanical systems and user requirements to create reliable, high-performance products.