Principal Software Engineer in Birmingham

Principal Software Engineer in Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and develop innovative software solutions in defence consultancy.
  • Company: Rapidly growing consultancy with experienced practitioners in UK defence.
  • Benefits: Negotiable salary, 25 days holiday, pension, life insurance, and career advancement.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for rapid career growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in cutting-edge projects while advancing your skills.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in software design, C/C++ proficiency, and strong stakeholder management.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Salary: Negotiable plus benefits, pension (7% contribution), 25 days holiday & life insurance.

We are looking for principal software engineers with diverse experience. We are a small but rapidly growing consultancy, owned by highly experienced and recognised practitioners in UK defence consultancy. We are looking for candidates with a mix of technical expertise and interpersonal skills, able to work independently and in small teams.

The Role: As a Principal Software Engineer, you will play a major role in leading and developing software engineering in the Software Modelling and Simulation, autonomy and geospatial fields, along with providing key advice around innovation and new techniques to stakeholders. You will be designing solutions for complex challenges that will meet and exceed user requirements.

Responsibilities will include:

  • Take responsibility for the leadership and delivery of whole, or significant sub-components, of technical consulting projects and products.
  • Designing, developing and delivering software solutions using a large range of techniques, including Wargames, Modelling and Simulation, Robotic and Autonomous systems, Digital Twins and Synthetic Environments.
  • Applying mathematical and computational methods to tackle real world problems, applying tools and techniques, and developing novel approaches where required.
  • Building new relationships and maintaining current customer relationships.

Expertise Required:

At least 10 years of experience, including designing and delivering software applications and leading teams.

About You: We are looking for candidates who can help the company grow and can offer exciting opportunities for those with the drive to develop their own skills and those of the company. We offer competitive salaries and packages, and the opportunity for rapid advancement for the right candidates. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

Essential:

  • At least 10 years experience in designing and implementing performant software applications.
  • Apply mathematical principles or statistical approaches to solve problems in scientific or applied fields.
  • The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level or have equivalent relevant experience.
  • Proficient in C/C++ native development.
  • Demonstratable skills in stakeholder management including influencing, negotiating and conflict management.
  • Demonstratable experience and capability in writing proposals and coordinating bid management activity.
  • Experience in line management and enabling people to perform.
  • Extensive experience with a range of software modelling and simulation techniques.
  • Experience in using cases and project data context to determine specifications and requirements.
  • Experience in one or more of the following technical disciplines: Videogame engine technology (e.g. Unreal Engine, Godot), Agent, Entity and Event based Simulation, Robotics and Autonomous Systems.
  • Understand varied codebases and be confident in making changes to large projects.
  • Understand performance and hardware constraints.
  • Building customer and stakeholder relationships.
  • Authoring of technical reports.
  • Presenting to customers.
  • Be willing to travel (on occasion as projects demand) and comfortable to work at client sites for periods.

Desirable:

  • Experience working with Defence Digital, DE&S, Dstl, Frontline Commands or UK Defence industry.

Other Requirements:

  • Candidates must have an existing right to live and work in the UK.
  • Candidates will need to undergo an internal BPSS check prior to gaining site access.
  • Candidates will also need to either hold a current SC clearance or be willing and eligible to undergo a Security Clearance check (SC level) upon starting their employment with the company. To gain SC clearance you will normally need at least 5 years UK residency.

Principal Software Engineer in Birmingham employer: Sirius Digital

As a rapidly growing consultancy in the UK defence sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including a 7% pension contribution and 25 days holiday, and ample opportunities for professional development, we are committed to supporting our Principal Software Engineers in their career growth while tackling complex challenges in software engineering. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your expertise will directly contribute to meaningful projects and advancements in technology.

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Contact Details:

Sirius Digital Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer in Birmingham

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 Sirius Digital 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 Sirius Digital.

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 Sirius Digital.

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 Sirius Digital 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 Birmingham

Software Engineering
C/C++ Native Development
Mathematical Principles
Statistical Approaches
Stakeholder Management
Proposal Writing
Bid Management

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 Sirius Digital.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sirius Digital 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 Sirius Digital

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 Sirius Digital 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.