Contract Software Engineer - ATE

Job Title: Contract Software Test Developer - ATE

Location: Reading

Rate: £50 to £60 per hour

Employment Type: Contract

Contract Length: Initial 6 month contract

Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working - Typically 3 days on site and 2 from home but flexibility to work based on the task

IR35 Determination: Indicative Outside

We’re seeking a Contract Software Test Developer to design and build a brand‐new Automated Test Equipment (ATE) system from the ground up. This is a hands‐on role where you’ll architect the software, define the test strategy, and create the tooling that will underpin future validation and production test processes.

You’ll work closely with hardware, firmware, and systems teams to shape requirements and deliver a robust, scalable ATE solution.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and implement a new ATE system, including software, tooling, and test workflows.
• Develop automated test software using Python and C# or C/C++..
• Build test frameworks, scripts, and infrastructure to support validation and production testing.
• Integrate with instrumentation, hardware interfaces, and measurement equipment.
• Configure and optimise Linux‐based systems used within the ATE environment.
• Collaborate with cross‐functional teams to define test requirements and ensure full coverage.
• Investigate test failures, analyse logs, and support root‐cause analysis.
• Produce documentation, test procedures, and contribute to continuous improvement of test processes.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong hands‐on experience with Python for automation and tooling.
• Solid programming capability in C#, C/C++
• Experience in designing an implementing ATE for embedded systems or electronics.
• Confident working in Linux environments.
• Proven experience developing or supporting ATE systems or similar hardware‐software test platforms.
• Understanding of hardware interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, or similar.
• Ability to debug across software, hardware, and system boundaries.
• Comfortable working independently in a contract environment and driving a new system from concept to delivery.

This role has an indicative outside IR35 determination, meaning we can accept candidates who wish to operate through their own Personal Service Company (PSC).