At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of innovative firmware for life-enhancing products.
- Company: Join Ensera Design, a world-class consultancy in health innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, private healthcare, and a performance-related bonus.
- Other info: Dynamic workspace in Bristol with great career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a supportive team culture with exciting projects.
- Qualifications: Experience with ARM Cortex-M and strong C/C++ skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 73954 - 73954 £ per year.
About the role
Bold ideas start with bold people. At Ensera Design, we are a world‑class, user‑centered innovation and product development consultancy working across medical and consumer health. Join our multidisciplinary team to build robust, secure firmware that powers life‑enhancing products. We are currently seeking a Senior Software Engineer – MCU to join our talented team and contribute to delivering exceptional solutions for our clients.
You will lead the design and delivery of microcontroller (MCU) firmware for real‑time systems, owning technical decisions and collaborating across hardware, Linux, UI, connectivity and test to integrate complete solutions.
What you’ll do:
- Design and implement MCU firmware aligned to system and security architecture.
- Own technical design of MCU subsystems.
- Develop and review embedded C/C++ for real‑time systems.
- Collaborate with hardware and software peers.
- Champion coding standards and secure development.
Your skills and experience:
Whilst you do not need to meet all of these points, please ensure you meet the majority of them before making an application:
Essential:
- Proven experience with ARM Cortex‑M or equivalent.
- Strong C/C++ in embedded, real‑time contexts.
- Experience in quality‑controlled or safety‑critical environments.
Desirable:
- STM32, bootloaders, MISRA, UART/SPI/I2C/CAN.
Why work with us?
Ensera Design offers interesting and varied work combined with a supportive team culture to provide a stimulating environment where you will have the opportunity to develop and learn from others. We offer flexible working policies where working patterns are agreed with our line managers, taking into account the role, needs of the individual, and the team.
We recognise that we are only as good as our people and we know how important it is to support our team. We offer:
- Performance-related company-wide bonus.
- Flexible hybrid working in line with our core hours (Mon–Thu, 9:30am–12:00pm & 2:00pm–4:00pm; Fri, 9:30am–12:00pm).
- Private healthcare for you and your family.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
- Salary exchange pension scheme.
- 25 days of annual leave, plus the option to purchase up to one working week and additional days for length of service.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and digital wellbeing platform.
- Cycle to Work & Electric Vehicle Lease schemes.
- Death in service (x4 gross salary).
- Training and development opportunities, including dedicated learning days and regular knowledge-sharing sessions.
- A free lunch the first Monday of every month alongside our company-wide meeting.
- Free breakfast every Wednesday, and plenty of opportunities to socialise, including team-organized activities, summer and Christmas parties, and more.
About us:
We are based in an iconic Grade II listed building in the heart of Bristol. Our vibrant workspace houses state-of-the-art labs, a design studio, usability suites, and collaborative meeting spaces. Nestled in a lively neighbourhood with independent shops, we’re just a short walk from Park Street, the Harbourside, and St. Nick’s Markets.
We are proud of our values:
- Find a way: We work as one team, combining our knowledge and experience to unite around a shared goal. We trust each other and do what’s needed to get things done and exceed expectations.
- Pull together: We believe anything is possible. When faced with challenges we take the initiative, using our creative spirit and determination to find bold solutions and deliver results that move us forward.
- Care: We act with integrity, take pride in our work, and support each other. We each play our part to make a positive impact for our customers, our colleagues, and our planet.
Our diverse, multidisciplinary team spans research, design, human factors, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, and beyond. Together, we deliver cutting-edge solutions for clients ranging from global leaders to innovative start-ups, with a particular focus on medical devices, drug delivery, orthopaedics, and diagnostics.
Do we sound like a good match for you? If you’d like to discuss the role or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need to make your application, we’d love to hear from you. If you think you might be the right person for us but want an informal chat first then get in touch via careers_uk@enseradesign.com.
If you like the sound of Ensera Design and you feel you have the right skills for the role please apply via our Recruitee portal. Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy if we have a high level of applications. We look forward to hearing from you!
At Ensera Design we believe that designing for people means including all people, starting with the team behind the work. Our human-centred design ethos is rooted in empathy, and our values – pull together, find a way, and care – guide us in building a team that reflects the diversity of the world we design for. We know that different perspectives lead to better ideas, stronger collaboration, and more meaningful outcomes. If you meet the skills and experience for this role, we welcome your application – whatever your background, identity, or path into design. What matters to us is that you share our belief in purposeful, people-first design.
Polite notice for agencies – We appreciate the interest from recruitment partners; however, we are managing this hiring process directly and ask that agencies do not contact us regarding this role. Unsolicited CVs will be considered as a gift to Ensera Design.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer in Bristol
✨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 Ensera Design 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 Ensera Design.
✨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 Ensera Design.
✨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 Ensera Design 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 Senior Software Engineer in Bristol
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 Ensera Design.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ensera Design 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 Ensera Design
✨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 Ensera Design 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.