C Embedded Software Engineer - Realtime Systems

C Embedded Software Engineer (RTOS / Linux)

Guildford / Hybrid

We’re working with a highly respected technology business. The engineering teams here aren’t boxed into one narrow phase of development either. You’ll be involved from day one, working alongside hardware, systems, and mission teams to get real spacecraft into space on realistic timescales.

This is proper engineering. Tight constraints. Real-time systems. Hardware interaction. Mission-critical reliability. The sort of environment where good engineers thrive because the work actually matters.

The role

You’ll be developing embedded software for Vehicle platforms, primarily in C, working close to the hardware on systems that need to perform first time, every time.

The work covers the full development lifecycle - requirements capture, architecture input, implementation, testing, integration, and ongoing support through mission delivery. You’ll be involved in technical reviews, problem solving, and making sensible engineering decisions under pressure.

Projects move quickly, priorities can shift, and there’s a constant balance between technical excellence and delivery. The engineers who do well here are pragmatic, adaptable, and comfortable taking ownership.

Day to day

* Developing embedded and real-time software

* Working across mission-critical applications and hardware interfaces

* Capturing and refining technical requirements

* Supporting integration, verification, and system-level testing

* Identifying technical risks early and driving solutions

* Taking part in peer reviews and collaborative engineering activities

* Working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the mission lifecycle

Required

* Strong embedded C development experience within real-time environments

* Background working with RTOS or bare-metal systems such as VxWorks, RT Linux, FreeRTOS or similar

* Good understanding of low-level software and hardware interaction

* Experience delivering software against structured engineering processes

* Python skills for tooling, scripting, or test automation

* Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, serial interfaces, and IP networking

* Exposure to modern version control and collaborative development workflows

* Comfortable working within Agile-style delivery environments

Useful extras

* Understanding of digital electronics

* Experience with SPARC, ARM, or RISC-V architectures

* aerospace, defence, robotics, automotive, or other safety/mission-critical sector experience

Hybrid working is fully supported, with flexibility around how people structure their week