Lead Engineer - Embedded Software and Hardware Design

Lead Engineer - Embedded Software and Hardware Design

Camberley

Salary: £65,000 – £72,000 per annum + Bonus & Benefits

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

About the Role

Our client, an innovative designer and manufacturer of bespoke technology solutions for a variety of applications are seeking to recruit an experienced Embedded Software Engineer with a broad range of hardware skills to join their close-knit team.

Operating from a purpose-built research and development facility, the company pairs clever electronic circuit design with intelligent embedded software to deliver solutions ranging from one-off prototypes to large-scale production runs. No two projects are the same—spanning custom lighting sequences, scientific measurement systems, and the control of large moving platforms.

As part of a small, versatile, cross functional team, you will have genuine creative freedom and ownership across the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept and specification through to board bring-up and final production.

Key responsibilities for this highly varied and interesting role, where no two days are ever the same will include:-

• Embedded Firmware Development
• Hardware Bring-Up & Debugging
• Product Definition & Component Selection,
• Modern Development Workflows
• Client & Team Collaboration
• Leading New Product Development initiatives
• Product and materials testing

• Key Skills & Experience Required

The position requires A technically competent, inquisitive all-rounder with well-developed people skills who wants to be part of a small, vibrant business who is proficient in the following :-

• Embedded C (interrupts, DMA, peripheral drivers) on bare-metal and RTOS targets (FreeRTOS preferred).
• Hands-on microcontroller experience with at least one of the following: PIC18/PIC32, nRF52/53/54, ESP32, STM32, or RP2040/RP2350.
• Solid working knowledge of communication peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C, USB).
• Practical hardware skills, including schematic/PCB reading, bench debugging, and SMD soldering/rework.
• Experience with Git (ideally Azure DevOps), CI pipelines, and familiarity with AI-assisted coding tools (Claude preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the adaptability to manage multiple fast-paced tasks and build strong client relationships.

Desirable Skills

• Lighting control protocols & Connectivity : DMX512/RDM, Art-Net/sACN, Ethernet/TCP-IP (lwIP), BLE, CRMX/wireless DMX, LoRa, or USB Power Delivery.
• Security & Bootloaders : A/B bootloaders, image verification, embedded cryptography (ECDSA/Ed25519, SHA-256, AES, mbedTLS), and awareness of the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) (secure boot, SBOMs).
• Tools & Compliance: Python scripting for bench automation/test scripts, KiCad familiarity, and EMC/RED compliance awareness.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary: £65,000 – £72,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
• Bonus: 0–10% annual bonus based on company performance
• Holiday: 33 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Perks: Free lunch provided daily and free on-site parking
• Pension: Company pension scheme