At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the software lifecycle for secure, mission-critical products in a defence environment.
- Company: Join a cutting-edge defence tech company with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private medical, enhanced pension, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentoring and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on secure software while growing your technical skills.
- Qualifications: Strong C/C++ experience and embedded software development skills required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Overview
In this role you will own the end-to-end software lifecycle for secure, mission-critical products in a defence environment.
You’ll lead embedded and/or application software development, shaping architecture with cross-functional teams and mentoring engineers.
You will drive robust testing, modern engineering practices, and technical reviews to deliver reliable, scalable solutions.
This position offers hands-on impact, technical growth, and the chance to influence secure software at scale.
- Pay / Benefits
- bonus
- private medical
- enhanced pension
- 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
- flexible benefits
- potential early Friday finish
Responsibilities
- Design and develop embedded and/or application software
- Use C/C++ across bare-metal, RTOS, and Linux environments
- Apply Object-Oriented Design and SOLID principles
- Support software architecture, requirements, and technical design
- Advocate TDD/BDD, CI, Dev Sec Ops, and automated testing
- Collaborate with Systems, Hardware and Firmware engineers
- Lead technical reviews and contribute to engineering decisions
- Mentor less experienced engineers
- Contribute to technical proposals, bids, and future product development
- Drive improvements in software tools, processes, and engineering practices
- Key requirements
- Strong C/C++ experience
- Significant embedded software development experience
- Experience with bare-metal, RTOS and/or Embedded Linux
- Strong understanding of SDLC and best practices
- Experience with Object-Oriented Design and Design Patterns
- Strong testing and design-for-test experience
- Experience in complex or regulated environments
- Knowledge of Rust, TCP/IP, MISRA, Dev Sec Ops, CI/CD, DOORS, UML, Sys ML or Enterprise Architect would be advantageous
- Mentoring and coaching
- Technical leadership
- Collaborative cross-functional collaboration
- C/C++
- Embedded software development
- Bare-metal/RTOS/Embedded Linux
Principal Software Engineer in Portsmouth employer: Copello
As a Contracts & Subcontracts Manager at our company, you will thrive in a dynamic work environment that values collaboration and innovation. With flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to employee development, we offer numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while being part of a supportive team in the vibrant cities of Gloucester or Manchester. Join us to make a meaningful impact in your career while enjoying a healthy work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer in Portsmouth
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Copello or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Copello.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Copello.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Copello that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer in Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Copello.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Copello and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Copello
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Copello uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
