Java Engineer (Tooling)

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Java Engineer to join our team. This exciting new role will contribute to our product development, taking responsibility for specific areas of functionality within our product suite, and being the driver of design and development in those areas. Our team is focused on the development of new Bright Ascension software products, as well as supporting the maintenance of legacy products, and building on our internal tooling which enables our product development.

As part of the team, you will primarily be contributing to the development of new products and getting involved in all stages of the software development lifecycle as part of that work. Our teams use agile processes and work closely together to create a cohesive suite of software products, and underlying tooling. We see this role as being full time, although this is negotiable. Ideally, we would like this role to be based in Edinburgh/hybrid working to allow for regular interaction with the teams responsible for Product Management, Customer delivery and operations, Finance, Business Development and Sales and Marketing. This is a hybrid role in principle, though fully remote will be considered for exceptional candidates.

What you will do

• Design, development, and testing elements of our ground software.
• Working with the team to produce high-quality, reliable software that conforms to best practices.
• Collaborating with other teams to ensure seamless integration of ground software products within the wider product suite.
• Implementing bug fixes, and providing support both internally, and externally.

Essential skills & experience

• Strong Java experience and knowledge, with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a professional environment.
• Experience with development and debugging of high-quality code, and adherence to best coding practices.
• Experience in planning and executing all stages of software engineering, from design to documentation according to a specified development process.

Personal skills

• Enjoys problem solving in a range of programming languages, with an interest in learning new languages and frameworks.
• Works well both independently and in a team, respecting the opinions of others as part of a fast‑paced technical environment.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills, both for internal, and external customer facing interactions.
• Is diligent, creative, and attentive to details.
• Wants to make a strong contribution to the business, financially but also in terms of team culture and values.
• Is consistently curious, interested in learning new skills, and open to new ideas and ways of working.

We think that the following skills would definitely be valuable in this role:

• Knowledge of, or exposure to, space systems in either a commercial or academic context.
• Experience operating as part of a collaborative Agile team.
• Experience of model‑based and/or component‑based software engineering.
• Experience in performing requirements analysis and elicitation based on formal and informal inputs.
• Use of version control such as Git or Mercurial.
• Familiarity with DevOps concepts and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with Apache Maven.
• Understanding of database schemas and query languages.

What we can offer you

• A competitive salary in the range of £35k‑£45k depending on experience, with regular reviews.
• A fantastic opportunity to join a growing, innovative, employee‑centred business pushing boundaries in the space industry.
• Flexible hours and hybrid working, enabling you to create your ideal work life balance.
• 36 days paid holiday per annum.
• Enhanced Company Sick Pay and Long‑Term Sickness cover.
• A Health Cash Plan to cover costs such as dental, physio and optical.
• Life Assurance cover (x4 salary).
• As a member of the Bright Ascension team you would have a stake in the business through our Employee Benefit Trust.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Opportunities for international travel for exhibitions and trade shows.
• Investment in you and your skill development and the opportunity to attend relevant events and conferences to aid career / skill development.
• Company events and regular activities for social engagement and team building.
• An open, supportive, inclusive environment where you can explore your ideas and make a big difference to the product and business.

About Bright Ascension

We are a fast growing, innovative company changing the way that software is developed in the space industry. With customers across the world, ranging from universities and space agencies, to commercial organisations and start‑ups, our core technologies enable our customers to develop and operate space‑based systems and services faster, more cost effectively and more reliably. Innovation is at the heart of what we do and it is our team which drives that innovation; this is reflected in our commitment to employee ownership, which gives all of us a voice, and a stake, in our current and future success. With offices in Dundee, Edinburgh and Bristol we now have more than 50 members of staff and plans to expand significantly over the next 12 months. We are at a very exciting time in our ambitious growth plans and have fantastic opportunities for talented individuals to join our team.

Our Values

We worked together to identify and shape the values that underpin everything we do, our actions, our vision and all things Bright Ascension. Enjoy what you do and have fun. Be curious and be fearless. Unconventional ideas and passion are the paths to true innovation. Sharing knowledge helps the team thrive. Start a dialogue and win through teamwork. Success comes through collaboration and support. Respect & Integrity. Recognise differences and accept opinions. Integrity, respect and high standards create unbreakable trust and builds reputation.