Backend Software Engineer (National Security)

Location: Hampshire (secure-site working required on hybrid basis)

Clearance: Active SC clearance required with eligibility for higher levels of UK vetting.

The Opportunity: You will be joining a highly respected engineering organisation operating at the forefront of National Security technology. This is an environment where software engineering feels closer to applied R&D than traditional delivery. Teams bring together engineers, scientists and specialists to solve complex technical problems, often working on systems that don’t yet have established patterns or playbooks. Projects span secure communications, data platforms and high-assurance systems, with engineers regularly rotating across programmes to broaden their exposure and work across different problem spaces. The culture is one of the strongest in the sector. Engineers are trusted, given autonomy and supported by active communities, advocacy groups and a genuine focus on doing high-quality work. If you’re currently in a more constrained environment or working against rigid delivery structures, this offers the chance to operate in a setting where engineering depth, experimentation and real-world impact are prioritised.

The Role: As a Backend Software Engineer you will design, build and evolve software systems used in complex, high-assurance environments. You will work as part of multidisciplinary teams, contributing across the full lifecycle from design through to implementation and ongoing evolution of systems that operate in real-world operational settings.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Designing and developing backend services using languages such as Python and Go
• Building scalable, containerised applications using Docker and Kubernetes
• Developing and maintaining APIs, microservices and distributed systems
• Applying test-driven development practices to deliver reliable, maintainable software
• Contributing to CI/CD pipelines and automated delivery workflows
• Collaborating with engineers, architects and stakeholders to shape system design and behaviour
• Producing clear documentation to support long-term reuse and integration across teams

The environment often includes work across secure systems, networking layers and high-assurance software, although the focus of the role is on backend engineering rather than low-level systems development. Experience with at least two of Python, Go or Kubernetes is expected, but the organisation places far more emphasis on engineering mindset, adaptability and problem-solving ability than on matching a fixed stack. This role is particularly well suited to engineers who enjoy working across modern backend development, cloud-native systems and real-world problem domains, rather than being confined to a single product or narrow technology area.

Security Requirements: Due to the nature of the work, candidates must hold active SC clearance and be eligible for the highest levels of UK security vetting. This typically requires sole UK nationality and long-term UK residency.