Critical Software
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Critical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
9 Jobs
Head of Finance & Performance
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description We are now looking for a Head of Finance & Performance to work alongside the CFO. This is a company-wide mission spanning sales, delivery and support functions - owning how performance is measured, challenged and reported across the business, and giving senior management a clear, independent read on how the budget is being executed and where the numbers are really going. This is a role for someone who wants to shape how a high-growth tech group runs its finances, and not just report on them. You'll challenge the standard for how the business plans, forecasts and explains its performance, and you'll have the standing to push back when the numbers don't add up. You'll also help us build a modern, AI-augmented finance function: - Hands-on experience using AI tools and deploying agents to take repetitive work off the team. Critical Software has grown organically and through investments and joint ventures across the technology space, and finance sits close to that activity: company-wide reporting, transaction support, post-deal integration. The role offers wide exposure across the business and a real seat at the table on the decisions that shape it. What do we expect from you? - Own company budget and performance reporting - track where each business area is against plan, surface what's really driving variances, and make sure senior management sees the picture early. - Partner with business-area leaders on their budgets and forecasts by pressure-testing the assumptions and raising the bar on how the business plans. - Identify financial risks early and bring senior management not just an issue, but a recommended path through it. - Act as the financial check on major client and supplier contracts before they're signed, protecting margin and flagging risk in commercial commitments. - Monitor live contract performance and surface risks that area-level reporting can miss. - Review statutory close and financial statements for SNC / IFRS Compliance. - Validate tax compliance in coordination with internal teams and external advisors. - Oversee how procurement decisions land financially across the company (both the spend itself and the policy discipline behind it). - Be the company's primary face to external auditors, banks and tax authorities. - Drive the AI and automation agenda inside finance — identify where agents can take on more of the workload and show the team the way forward. Qualifications - Degree in Finance, Management, Economics, Accounting or related field. - 10–15+ years in finance, with at least some of that time at a senior level in a multi-entity or fast-moving environment. - Strong knowledge of SNC / IFRS and Portuguese taxation (IRC, VAT, IRS). - Experience with ERP systems and BI tools (Power BI or similar). - Experience in a tech, multi-entity or international group is an advantage. - International experience is a plus. - Hands-on experience building or deploying AI/agent-based tools in a finance context - we're looking for someone who's actually done this, not just read about it. - Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial matters clearly to different audiences. - Independent, intellectually curious, and willing to hold a position under pressure. - Excellent English language skills, spoken and written. Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around. - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong. - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun. - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards. - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! - Private Health Insurance - Because your health and peace of mind matters. - Employee Assistance Programme - Confidential support for you and your household from mental health to legal or financial advice. - Home Office Support - Get what you need to work comfortably from home. - Extra Holidays - Two extra days after your first year, and more as time goes on. - Extra Parental Leave - Two additional months of fully paid leave for both parents. - Flex-time - Work when it makes sense for you, as long as it works for your team and goals. - Gradual Return to Work Support - We'll help you ease back in with a plan that fits your pace and needs. - Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme for long-term employees.
Software Engineer
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description We are looking for a driven engineer to join our growing railway systems team. You'll be at the heart of delivering mission-critical software for train control systems — working to the highest safety standards (SIL2) and directly shaping how millions of passengers travel safely every day. This position is open across our offices in Lisbon, Coimbra, Viseu, and Porto. - Design, develop, and validate PLC-based software for safety-critical railway applications, following EN 50657 standards up to SIL2. - Apply your railway domain knowledge across the full lifecycle of the train control systems — from requirements through to integration. - Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Systems, V&V, Safety) to ensure software quality and traceability throughout development. - Produce and review technical documentation including Software Design Specifications, Software Architecture Specifications, and safety cases to SIL2 requirements. Qualifications - Minimum 2 years of experience in the railway domain, specifically in Train Control and Management Systems. - Hands-on PLC programming experience. - Proven track record delivering software up to SIL2 (EN 50657 or equivalent). - You take ownership — you don't wait to be told there's a problem; you raise it and help solve it. - Continuously improve your craft — staying current with railway standards, tooling, and best practices, and sharing knowledge across the team. - Strong written and verbal communication in English; French is a nice to have. Benefits - Private health insurance - Employee Assistance Programme (mental health, legal, financial support) - Home office support - Extra holidays: 2 additional days after year one, more as time goes on - Extra parental leave: 2 additional months fully paid - Gradual return-to-work support: We'll help you ease back from long breaks - Sabbatical programme for long-term employees - Training, mentorship, and growth opportunities: we'll invest in where you want to go next
Product Owner
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description The future of rail isn't just about movement, it's about intelligence, security, and connection. We unite rail expertise with digital innovation to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable transportation solutions. Technology here speaks with purpose: accelerating digitalization, embedding cybersecurity, and shaping the next era of rail. This position is for Stadler Digital Labs, a joint venture between Stadler Rail and Critical Software serving as the digital competence center for the Stadler Group. Key Responsibilities: - Own and manage the product backlog: define, prioritise, and maintain user stories, epics, and acceptance criteria in alignment with business and stakeholder goals. - Serve as the primary point of contact between development teams, stakeholders, and internal customers, ensuring a shared understanding of product vision and requirements. - Collaborate closely with the Scrum Master and development team throughout each sprint, participating in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. - Translate high-level business requirements into clear, actionable user stories and functional specifications. - Define and communicate the product roadmap, ensuring it reflects organisational priorities and evolving customer needs. - Monitor and evaluate product performance using defined KPIs and metrics; gather feedback to drive continuous improvement. - Support user acceptance testing (UAT) and validate delivered features against acceptance criteria before release. - Identify and proactively manage risks, dependencies, and blockers that may affect product delivery. - Contribute to the prioritisation of technical debt and non-functional requirements alongside feature work. - Participate in stakeholder management activities, including regular reporting on product progress, scope changes, and delivery timelines. Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field. - 1–4 years of experience in a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or related role within a software development environment. - Demonstrated experience working within Agile/Scrum frameworks; certified Product Owner (CSPO, PSPO I/II) is advantageous. - Proven ability to write clear user stories with well-defined acceptance criteria. - Experience managing and prioritising a product backlog using tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, or equivalent. - Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, iterative delivery environment. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail. - Experience in the railway, transportation, or safety-critical systems domain is a plus. - Knowledge in Agile/Scrum methodologies and ceremonies. - Experience with backlog management tools: Jira or similar. - Familiarity with software development lifecycle (SDLC) and DevOps practices. - Understanding of UX/UI principles and ability to collaborate with designers on wireframes and prototypes. - Basic understanding of system architecture concepts and APIs (sufficient to engage meaningfully with development teams). - Data analysis and reporting: ability to define and track product metrics and KPIs. - Knowledge of cybersecurity principles relevant to digital product development is a plus. - Clear and concise written and verbal communication (Portuguese and English); able to adapt messaging to technical and non-technical audiences. - Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills. - Organised, self-directed, and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously. - Collaborative mindset with a team-first approach. - Curiosity and a continuous learning attitude in a rapidly evolving technological environment. - Resilience and adaptability in the face of changing requirements and priorities. Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around. - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong. - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun. - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards. - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! - Private Health Insurance - Because your health and peace of mind matters. - Employee Assistance Programme - Confidential support for you and your household from mental health to legal or financial advice. - Home Office Support - Get what you need to work comfortably from home. - Extra Holidays - Two extra days after your first year, and more as time goes on. - Extra Parental Leave - Two additional months of fully paid leave for both parents. - Flex-time - Work when it makes sense for you, as long as it works for your team and goals. - Gradual Return to Work Support - We'll help you ease back in with a plan that fits your pace and needs. - Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme for long-term employees.
Test Automation Engineer
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description The future of rail isn't just about movement, it's about intelligence, security, and connection. We unite rail expertise with digital innovation to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable transportation solutions. Technology here speaks with purpose: accelerating digitalization, embedding cybersecurity, and shaping the next era of rail. This position is for Stadler Digital Labs, a joint venture between Stadler Rail and Critical Software serving as the digital competence center for the Stadler Group. Key Responsibilities: - Design, develop, and maintain automated test suites for UI end-to-end testing using Playwright, ensuring comprehensive coverage of user-facing functionality across web applications. - Implement and maintain API test automation using tools such as Postman and/or REST Assured, validating endpoints, contracts, and integration flows. - Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) to enable fast feedback loops within the development workflow. - Collaborate closely with developers, product owners, and UX designers to understand acceptance criteria and translate them into actionable, maintainable test cases. - Analyse and report test results clearly, track defects with appropriate severity and reproducibility information, and follow up until resolution. - Participate in sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives, contributing a quality-first perspective throughout the software development lifecycle. - Contribute to the continuous improvement of the test framework architecture, tooling standards, and automation best practices within the team. - Perform exploratory and regression testing as needed to complement automated coverage. Qualifications - Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Informatics, or a related technical field (or equivalent demonstrated experience). - 1–2 years of experience in software testing or QA roles, including academic projects, internships, or professional experience. - Solid understanding of software testing fundamentals: test planning, test case design, defect lifecycle, and quality assurance principles. - Hands-on experience or strong academic exposure to Playwright for browser-based end-to-end test automation. - Experience with API testing concepts and tools (Postman and/or REST Assured); familiarity with REST API design and HTTP protocols. - Basic to intermediate proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript or Python for scripting and test development. - Familiarity with version control workflows using Git (branching, pull requests, code reviews). - Understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies and working in iterative delivery cycles. - Clear and concise when reporting test findings, raising risks, or asking for clarification. - Ability to deconstruct complex system behaviours and identify edge cases. - English - Professional working proficiency (written and spoken); primary working language. - Demonstrates awareness of AI trends (including agentic AI), with curiosity and motivation to explore how they can enhance products, processes, or ways of working. - Shows a learning mindset toward emerging technologies and an openness to experiment, adapt, and continuously upskill in an AI enabled environment. Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around. - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong. - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun. - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards. - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! Company Description Critical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation. A Benefit Corporation differs from a standard corporation (C-Corporation): It is a for-profit business entity, legally defined in the US and other jurisdictions, whose legally defined goals include the positive impact on society, workers, the community and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allow candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential. We are willing to move the barriers that may prevent you from demonstrating that you are the right candidate for this role, so please let us know if you need some adjustment in your recruitment process. By applying to a position at Critical Software, you are deemed to have accepted our Privacy Policy.
PMO Director
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description We're seeking a pragmatic and forward-thinking PMO Director to lead the evolution of Critical Software's project management capabilities as we scale our operations and embrace new ways of delivering value. This role will be instrumental in strengthening our delivery system, enhancing predictability and performance of project execution across markets, and driving the adoption of modern tools, including AI, to support project execution at scale, and helping project and technical leaders grow in their role. You will work closely with the COO and senior leadership to align delivery practices across our different markets (Portugal, Germany, UK, USA), bringing more consistency, better forecasting, and stronger leadership across projects. This role is about making things work better at scale: shaping direction, supporting execution, and driving change where it matters. Qualifications - 10+ years of experience in Project/Program management, PMO leadership, or delivery management - Proven experience in defining and implementing PMO structures, processes, and governance in complex organisations - Background in software engineering, technology services, or mission-critical environments - Experience working across multiple projects, customers, or markets - Strong experience with project management tools and platforms (e.g., Jira, MS Project, or similar) - Focus on developing people, particularly project managers and technical leaders in their leadership and communication skills - Good judgement when it comes to structure: able to define direction and frameworks, but not overly attached to process for its own sake - Practical familiarity with AI or automation in a delivery or operational context - Hands-on, pragmatic mindset with a strong focus on outcomes and simplicity - Ability to balance structure and flexibility, avoiding over-engineering while ensuring control and quality - A practical problem-solver who thrives in dynamic environments and focuses on getting things done - Curious and open to innovation, with a drive to continuously improve how work is delivered Requirements - Define and evolve project management practices across the organisation, ensuring consistency while allowing flexibility for different customers and markets - Establish clear governance models that enable visibility, early risk detection, and predictable delivery outcomes - Lead the evolution of project management tools and platforms across the organisation - Drive the adoption of data-driven decision-making and reporting to improve forecasting accuracy and operational visibility - Explore and implement AI-driven solutions to enhance planning, risk management, resource allocation, and delivery performance - Lead the development of project management capabilities across the organisation, including training, coaching, and mentoring - Support the growth of both project managers and technical leaders, strengthening leadership skills and delivery ownership - Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and pragmatic execution - Work closely with Operations Directors, Business Development, and Technology leadership to ensure alignment between delivery, customer expectations, and technical execution - Act as a key partner to the COO in strengthening the overall delivery system and scaling operations effectively - Promote knowledge sharing and alignment across markets, enabling consistency without unnecessary bureaucracy Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! - Private Health Insurance - Because your health and peace of mind matters. - Employee Assistance Programme - Confidential support for you and your household from mental health to legal or financial advice. - Home Office Support - Get what you need to work comfortably from home. - Extra Holidays - Two extra days after your first year, and more as time goes on. - Extra Parental Leave - Two additional months of fully paid leave for both parents. - Flex-time - Work when it makes sense for you. - Gradual Return to Work Support - We'll help you ease back in with a plan that fits your pace and needs. - Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme for long-term employees. Company Description Critical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Senior Project Manager
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description We are looking for a Senior Project Manager with strong experience in medical devices to lead complex, high-stakes projects in a highly regulated environment. You will lead end-to-end delivery of projects within the medical devices sector, ensuring compliance, quality, and timely execution. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams, clients, and regulatory stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet both technical and clinical expectations. This role requires a leader who understands not only project management, but also the regulatory, quality, and safety requirements specific to medical devices. Qualifications - 5+ years (ideally 7+) of experience managing complex projects, with a strong focus on medical devices - Proven experience working within regulated environments (e.g., IEC 62304, ISO 13485, FDA, MDR) - Strong leadership and decision-making skills in safety-critical contexts - Experience managing cross-functional teams including software, quality, and regulatory experts - Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders - Strong problem-solving mindset and risk management capabilities - Experience delivering projects using Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid methodologies - Experience managing international or multi-site projects - Fluent in English (C1/C2 Level) Requirements - Background in software for medical devices (SaMD / SiMD) - Experience with validation, verification, and clinical considerations Key Responsibilities - Lead end-to-end delivery of medical device projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards - Manage scope, timelines, budget, risks, and stakeholder expectations in a regulated healthcare environment - Coordinate with quality and regulatory teams to ensure adherence to industry standards and certification processes - Guide multidisciplinary teams across software, hardware, and systems engineering - Ensure clear, structured communication across clients, internal teams, and leadership - Drive risk management, traceability, and documentation aligned with medical device requirements - Support continuous improvement and adoption of best practices in medical device development lifecycles - Mentor team members and foster a culture of quality, safety, and excellence - Contribute to business development activities within the medical devices domain, supporting client relationships and growth Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! - Private Health Insurance - Employee Assistance Programme - Home Office Support - Extra Holidays - Extra Parental Leave - Flex-time - Gradual Return to Work Support - Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme
Process Verifier Specialist
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description The future of rail isn't just about movement, it's about intelligence, security, and connection. We unite rail expertise with digital innovation to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable transportation solutions. Technology here speaks with purpose: accelerating digitalization, embedding cybersecurity, and shaping the next era of rail. Behind every breakthrough are people, their talent, creativity, and drive to push boundaries. Together, we're building confidence, resilience, and a new standard for connected mobility powered by innovation. This position is for Stadler Digital Labs, a joint venture between Stadler Rail and Critical Software serving as the digital competence center for the Stadler Group. Could you be the Process Verifier Specialist that we've been looking for? - Support verification activities within the V‑model lifecycle (requirements, design, implementation, testing). - Review documentation (requirements specs, interface definitions, test reports). - Assist with traceability matrices between requirements and verification artefacts (as required in RAMS processes). - Contribute to evidence generation for RAMS/SIL compliance under supervision. - Work with engineering teams to clarify requirements and deviations. Qualifications - 4+ years experience in verifying process and preparing audits. - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent. - Excellent communication skills with a confident, clear, and structured communication style. - Strong critical thinking and problem-solving mindset. - Commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing. - Ability to anticipate issues, measure and monitor recurrently, pay attention to details. - A strong human interface, empathy, and bulletproof communication skills (with the team, the customer, the stakeholders). - When things get tough(er), you keep your cool, bring a positive attitude to the discussion and try to focus on solutions (not problems). - Speaking and writing in English and travelling are things you feel comfortable with. - Strong proficiency with MS Office tools – especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint, used for producing verification documents, matrices, and reports. Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around. - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong. - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun. - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards. - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! - Private Health Insurance - Because your health and peace of mind matters. - Employee Assistance Programme - Confidential support for you and your household from mental health to legal or financial advice. - Home Office Support - Get what you need to work comfortably from home. - Extra Holidays - Two extra days after your first year, and more as time goes on. - Extra Parental Leave - Two additional months of fully paid leave for both parents. - Flex-time - Work when it makes sense for you, as long as it works for your team and goals. - Gradual Return to Work Support - We'll help you ease back in with a plan that fits your pace and needs. - Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme for long-term employees to explore new ideas, projects or experiences.
Office Manager & Workplace Experience
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description The future of rail isn't just about movement, it's about intelligence, security, and connection. We unite rail expertise with digital innovation to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable transportation solutions. Technology here speaks with purpose: accelerating digitalization, embedding cybersecurity, and shaping the next era of rail. Behind every breakthrough are people, their talent, creativity, and drive to push boundaries. Together, we're building confidence, resilience, and a new standard for connected mobility powered by innovation. This position is for Stadler Digital Labs, a joint venture between Stadler Rail and Critical Software serving as the digital competence center for the Stadler Group. This is a hands-on role that blends office management and communication & employee engagement. What do we expect from you? - Academic background in Communication science / Marketing or equivalent professional experience - Lead daily office operations to ensure an organized, efficient, and welcoming environment - Assist teams with operational tasks, cross-functional coordination, project logistics, and support the overall employee journey in partnership with HR - Foster a positive and inclusive workplace by organizing events, acting as a trusted point of contact for employees, and contributing to initiatives that strengthen company culture and engagement - Support the development of employer brand through creative strategies, internal communications, storytelling, and external channels, in close collaboration with HR, Operations, and PR partners - Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, excellent communication and documentation skills, and a natural ability to build relationships - Content creation abilities (copywriting, social media, internal comms) - Basic design sensibility (nice-to-have: Canva, Adobe, or similar) - Excellent written and verbal Portuguese and English communication Benefits - Work that fits your life, not the other way around - Offices designed to make you feel like you belong - A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun - Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards - Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities! - Private Health Insurance - Because your health and peace of mind matters - Employee Assistance Programme - Confidential support for you and your household from mental health to legal or financial advice - Home Office Support - Get what you need to work comfortably from home - Extra Holidays - Two extra days after your first year, and more as time goes on - Extra Parental Leave - Two additional months of fully paid leave for both parents - Flex-time - Work when it makes sense for you - Gradual Return to Work Support - We'll help you ease back in with a plan that fits your pace and needs - Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme for long-term employees
Senior Software Engineer (C/C++)
Critical SoftwareCritical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation, committed to making a positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to profit. We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allowing candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential.
Role Description This is a senior, delivery-focused engineering role in a cleared UK defence environment—built for engineers who want to ship high-assurance software, not just talk about it. We are hiring experienced software engineers to deliver mission-critical systems into UK defence programmes where engineering evidence matters. You will work on long-running, complex products under security, safety, and operational constraints—with the autonomy to make sound technical calls and the responsibility to stand behind them. If you are looking for a role to “grow into seniority”, this position will feel too demanding and too exposed. We need people who can take ownership from day one in a cleared environment. Security Clearance - To join this programme, you'll need to already hold active UK Security Clearance at SC or DV level. - Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor, initiate, or wait for new clearances. - You must be able to start working in a cleared environment straight away. Seniority Expectations - This role is intended for engineers who have already operated at senior level in high-assurance environments and can lead technical delivery end-to-end. - Senior engineers (typically 10+ years) who have owned delivery of complex software through design, implementation, verification, and integration. - Exceptional engineers (typically 7+ years) already performing at senior/technical-lead level in defence, aerospace, or other safety-critical domains, with a track record of making pragmatic trade-offs under constraint. - Contribute directly to architecture, design decisions, and trade-offs. - Operate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams alongside systems, safety, and assurance engineers. What You Will Be Expected to Do - Take technical ownership of software delivered into regulated, high assurance environments. - Deliver robust C / C++ software that meets demanding requirements for reliability, safety, and maintainability. - Work across the full software lifecycle, including: - Requirements analysis - System and software design - Implementation and verification - Integration and support - Communicate clearly and precisely with technical peers and programme stakeholders. What We Expect From You - Proven experience delivering software into defence, aerospace, or safety-critical systems, ideally with exposure to assurance, certification, or safety cases. - Strong, hands-on expertise in C and/or C++ (modern practices, memory/ownership discipline, performance-aware design, and debugging on real targets). - Experience with embedded and/or Linux-based systems (e.g., RTOS, bare metal, Embedded Linux), including integration constraints and hardware interfaces. - Confidence with toolchains, build systems, and release workflows (e.g., cross-compiling, CMake and equivalents, linkers, packaging, and reproducible builds). - Evidence-driven engineering: familiarity with coding standards, static analysis, and code review discipline (e.g., MISRA/CERT-style rulesets, treating warnings as actionable). - Strong testing mindset: unit/integration testing and automation, working effectively within CI pipelines (e.g., Jenkins/GitLab CI or similar). - Comfortable working with requirements, traceability, and verification evidence (e.g., DOORS or similar tools/processes). - Security-aware mindset: understanding of secure coding and threat-driven thinking appropriate to defence environments. - Able to make and stand behind engineering decisions and trade-offs, and communicate them clearly to technical peers and programme stakeholders. - Professional maturity to operate effectively in regulated, high-assurance environments where process exists for a reason and delivery still matters. What This Role Offers - Work on real UK defence programmes—software that is deployed, used, and relied upon. - Long-term, technically demanding work where engineering quality and evidence genuinely matter—not just speed of delivery. - An environment that trusts senior engineers with autonomy, responsibility, and influence over design decisions, ways of working, and technical standards. - Flexible working where possible, balanced with the realities of on-site work in cleared environments. - Competitive compensation and benefits aligned to the market for senior, cleared engineers (details discussed transparently during the process). Important Notes - No visa sponsorship is available for this role. - Adjustments can be made to the recruitment process where required.