Senior Software Engineer

Lead the development of next-generation secure quantum communication technology.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Advanced Software Engineer to play a leading role in the development, testing and integration of advanced Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) software systems as part of an innovative international space programme.

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong software engineering professional to take ownership of key development activities, drive software quality and automation strategies, and collaborate with the European Space Agency (ESA) and international project partners.

The successful candidate will combine strong software engineering expertise with leadership capabilities, a quality-driven mindset and experience delivering complex software solutions in secure or high-assurance environments.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 8.15am-5pm and Friday 8.15am to 1pm.

Contract: 6-9months

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development of software for QKD payloads and ground segment systems.
• Assist with automated software testing, validation and quality assurance activities.
• Participate in Agile development cycles, including SCRUM ceremonies.
• Collaborate with senior engineers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver software solutions.
• Contribute to system integration activities, including sovereign use cases and OPS-SAT VOLT.
• Support continuous improvement of software development processes, standards and practices.

Technical Skills & Experience

Programming Languages

• Java
• C++
• Python

Tools & Technologies

• Automated software testing frameworks.
• Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Software development and quality assurance tools.

Methodologies & Practices

• Software testing principles and best practices.
• Continuous improvement and quality-driven development.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading software teams in high-security environments.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Familiarity with international collaboration and ESA standards.
• High level of comfort with automation, testing strategies (SDET mindset), and DevOps practices.

If you have experience or familiarity with any of the following, we want to hear from you:

• Aerospace, defence, or space communication systems (especially mission‑critical RF applications).
• Telemetry, telecommand, or satellite systems (SDR‑based and digital communication architectures).
• RF system lifecycles, including EMI/EMC, environmental testing, and product certification.
• Advanced radio architectures (FPGA-based systems and high-speed digital interfaces).

Any offer is subject to full BPSS* Screening (*Baseline Personnel Security Standard), including proof of Legal Right to Work, Criminal Records Check, and Drugs Screening.

Due to security requirements on this site all worker's nationality needs to be UK, EU or NATO.