At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop DDS-based communications for advanced Air Defence systems.
- Company: Join a leading UK defence programme with innovative technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, pension contributions, and flexi-leave days.
- Other info: On-site role in Bristol with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Influence system architecture and tackle real-time engineering challenges.
- Qualifications: Experience in DDS, distributed systems, and software architecture required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced software engineer with a strong background in DDS, real-time distributed systems and software architecture? We are recruiting for a highly technical position within a major UK defence programme developing advanced Air Defence systems. This is an opportunity to work at the point where software architecture, communications and complex weapon-system design meet – defining how critical software components and subsystems communicate across a sophisticated distributed system.
Rather than owning a single application or feature, you will work across the wider architecture, helping define the data models, interfaces and design patterns that underpin communication between software components at both subsystem and weapon-system level. This would suit an experienced DDS engineer, distributed systems specialist or software architect who wants substantial technical ownership while remaining hands-on.
The Role
Working closely with Software Architects, technical leads and subsystem development teams, you will help lead the continued development of a common communications architecture used across complex Air Defence systems. Your responsibilities will include:
- Designing and developing DDS-based communications architectures for complex real-time systems
- Designing and constructing Interface Definition Language (IDL) at weapon-system and subsystem level
- Defining the data models and interfaces used for communication between distributed software components
- Supporting architecture and design decisions across weapon-system and subsystem development
- Contributing to the definition and design of Command & Control functionality
- Developing reusable component templates, architectural patterns and software design approaches
- Analysing complex data requirements and translating them into robust software interfaces
- Providing technical guidance and mentoring to software development teams
- Working with Software Architects and engineering leads to resolve system-level integration and communication challenges
- Providing technical leadership for the technologies underpinning the wider communications framework
- Ensuring solutions continue to meet demanding standards for safety, reliability and software quality
What We're Looking For
We are particularly interested in engineers with experience in some of the following:
- Data Distribution Service (DDS)
- Interface Definition Language (IDL)
- Real-time distributed software systems
- Publish/subscribe architectures
- Software middleware and inter-process communications
- Data modelling and interface design
- System and subsystem software architecture
- Command & Control systems
- Mission-critical or safety-critical software
- Complex software/system integration
- Technical leadership or mentoring of software engineers
Experience within defence, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, simulation, automotive, industrial control or another complex real-time engineering environment would be particularly relevant. Experience with technologies such as RTI Connext DDS, OpenDDS, Fast DDS or Cyclone DDS would also be of interest. You do not necessarily need to come directly from the defence sector. Engineers who have developed sophisticated real-time distributed systems in adjacent industries are strongly encouraged to apply.
Why Consider This Role?
This is an opportunity to move beyond application-level development and influence software at system architecture level. You will be working on software that sits at the heart of advanced Air Defence capability, tackling difficult engineering problems around real-time communications, distributed data, interoperability, reliability and system integration.
The position also offers:
- Company bonus of up to £2,500
- Employer and employee pension contributions of up to 14% combined
- Paid overtime opportunities
- Up to 15 additional flexi-leave days
- Enhanced parental leave
- Excellent on-site facilities, including subsidised catering and free parking
- Opportunities to collaborate with specialist engineering teams internationally
Location & Working Arrangements
The position is based in Bristol. Due to the classified nature of the programmes involved, you should expect to work on-site 4–5 days per week. This is therefore unlikely to suit candidates seeking predominantly remote working.
Security & Nationality Requirements
Due to the security requirements associated with this position, applicants must hold British citizenship. Successful candidates will be required to complete the relevant UK Government personnel security screening.
If you are an experienced DDS Engineer, Distributed Systems Engineer, Software Architect or Real-Time Software Engineer looking for a role where you can influence the architecture of some of the UK's most advanced defence systems, we would be keen to hear from you. Apply now or contact Electus Recruitment Solutions for a confidential discussion.
Software Engineer - Data Distribution Service (RTI DDS) employer: Electus Recruitment Solutions
Join a forward-thinking company that values your contributions and offers a dynamic work culture where innovation thrives. With competitive salaries ranging from £40-50K, hybrid working options, and robust opportunities for professional growth, this role as a Scheduler allows you to engage in meaningful projects that impact the engineering landscape. Embrace the chance to collaborate with diverse teams and develop your skills in a supportive environment dedicated to your career advancement.
Contact Details:
Electus Recruitment Solutions Recruitment Team
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We think this is how you could land Software Engineer - Data Distribution Service (RTI DDS)
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We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer - Data Distribution Service (RTI DDS)
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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 Electus Recruitment Solutions.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Electus Recruitment Solutions
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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.
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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 Electus Recruitment Solutions uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
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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.
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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.
