At a Glance
- Tasks: Get hands-on with embedded systems, validating software and firmware on real hardware.
- Company: Join a dynamic defence systems team focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunities for travel, and a chance to work on impactful projects.
- Other info: Agile environment with excellent career growth and learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by ensuring products work seamlessly in the real world.
- Qualifications: Experience with embedded software in C/C++ and a practical approach to problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 55000 ÂŁ per year.
This is for someone who’s comfortable getting hands-on. Someone who can plug into a board, trace a fault, challenge assumptions, and help ship something solid.
You’ll be in the guts of embedded systems, working alongside engineers who actually build the thing. Code, hardware, firmware - all of it. The brief is simple: make sure it works properly, under real conditions, not just in theory.
What you’ll be doing
- You’ll sit inside a multi-disciplinary engineering team, not off to the side.
- Day to day, that means validating embedded software and firmware running on real hardware - not simulators alone. You’ll be setting up tests, breaking things (on purpose), figuring out why they broke, and working with the people who wrote the code to fix it.
- You’ll help shape how testing is done - environments, tooling, approach. If something’s clunky or inefficient, you’ll be expected to improve it.
- There’s a strong system-level angle here too. You’ll be looking at fully integrated products - software, electronics, and mechanical elements all working together — and making sure they behave as they should in the real world.
- It’s an Agile setup, so you’ll be part of stand-ups, reviews, and the usual cadence. Nothing ceremonial - just enough structure to keep things moving.
- And yes, you’ll document what matters: what you tested, what failed, what got fixed.
What you need to bring
- You’ve worked with embedded software, low-level stuff, typically in C or C++. You understand how it interacts with hardware because you’ve seen it, not just read about it.
- You’ve done testing, validation, or debugging in a real system - not just writing test cases in isolation. You know how messy things get when hardware’s involved, and you’re comfortable operating in that space.
- You understand the software lifecycle, but more importantly, you know where testing actually adds value within it.
- This role suits someone who’s practical. You don’t wait for perfect specs — you get stuck in, investigate, and move things forward.
Useful extras (not deal-breakers)
- If you’ve worked in regulated or safety-critical environments, that’s a plus — you’ll already understand the level of rigour expected.
- Experience with comms protocols like UART, RS232 or CAN will help, especially when you’re digging into system behaviour.
- If you’ve touched test frameworks, automation, or built test setups before, even better.
- Basic electronics knowledge goes a long way here - being able to read a schematic or understand what the hardware’s doing will make your life easier.
- Exposure to C#, or .NET is useful, but not essential.
Tools & environment
You’ll be working with embedded C/C++, standard version control (Git), and a mix of debugging and test tools. Nothing overly restrictive - the focus is on getting the job done properly.
The practical bits
You’ll need to be eligible for SC clearance. There may be occasional travel - typically to suppliers or customers - but it’s not a constant.
Locations
Embedded Firmware Engineer (C/C++) - Defence Systems in Canterbury, Kent employer: Standard 8
Contact Detail:
Standard 8 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Embedded Firmware Engineer (C/C++) - Defence Systems in Canterbury, Kent
✨Tip Number 1
Get hands-on with your skills! When you’re networking or chatting with potential employers, don’t just talk about your experience—show them. Bring along examples of your work, like code snippets or project summaries, to demonstrate your practical knowledge.
✨Tip Number 2
Join relevant forums and communities where embedded systems enthusiasts hang out. Engaging in discussions can help you learn more about the industry and even lead to job opportunities. Plus, it’s a great way to show your passion for the field!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to companies you’re interested in. A quick email or LinkedIn message expressing your enthusiasm for their work can go a long way. We love proactive candidates who take the initiative!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll be part of a community that values hands-on experience and practical problem-solving—just like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Embedded Firmware Engineer (C/C++) - Defence Systems in Canterbury, Kent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Hands-On Experience: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight any hands-on experience you have with embedded systems. We want to see that you’ve plugged into boards, traced faults, and tackled real-world challenges, not just theoretical knowledge.
Be Specific About Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; give us examples of how you've used them in practice. If you've worked with C or C++ in a testing or debugging context, let us know how you made an impact. Specifics help us understand your fit for the role!
Emphasise Your Problem-Solving Approach: We love practical thinkers! In your application, share instances where you’ve identified inefficiencies or clunky processes and how you improved them. This shows us you’re proactive and ready to contribute to our Agile environment.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Standard 8
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your embedded systems knowledge, especially in C and C++. Be ready to discuss how you've interacted with hardware in real-world scenarios. They’ll want to hear about specific projects where you’ve validated software and firmware, so have those examples at the ready!
✨Get Hands-On
Since this role is all about being practical, be prepared to talk about times when you’ve had to troubleshoot or debug in a messy environment. Share stories of how you’ve set up tests, broken things on purpose, and worked with engineers to fix issues. Show them you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty!
✨Understand the Agile Environment
Familiarise yourself with Agile methodologies, as this team operates in that setup. Be ready to discuss your experience with stand-ups, reviews, and how you contribute to keeping things moving. They’ll appreciate someone who can adapt and thrive in a dynamic setting.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your approach to improving testing environments and tooling. Think of examples where you identified inefficiencies and took the initiative to enhance processes. This will show that you’re proactive and committed to delivering solid results.