Senior Embedded Software Engineer in Swindon

STARK is a defense technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned vehicles that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective – giving NATO and its allies a decisive edge in the most contested environments.

We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today.

Your mission: We are seeking a talented Senior Embedded Engineer to help design and build the backbone of next-generation systems that integrate data, sensors, and control applications into secure, high-performance software. You will contribute to technology that powers aerospace, automotive, robotics, and defence-related platforms where real-world devices meet advanced software.

Responsibilities

• OS Design: Create and maintain a robust, reproducible Yocto-based Linux distribution tailored for autonomous flight.
• Toolchain Management: Create and maintain custom cross-compilation toolchains and SDKs for the team.
• Driver Ownership: Take full ownership of the lifecycle for MIPI camera and sensor drivers, ensuring total environmental awareness for our platforms.
• Performance: Optimise system boot time and real-time task latency.
• System Health: Implement fail-safes and watchdogs for mission-critical flight code.

Qualifications

• B.Sc/M.Sc in Computer Science, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• C/C++ (17/20/23): Senior level development for performance-critical systems.
• Yocto Project: Experience building custom layers, recipes, and Board Support Packages (BSPs).
• Kernel Configuration: Deep knowledge of kernel tuning and optimisation.
• Device Tree Manipulation: Hands-on experience with DTS/DTSI for hardware bring-up.
• Linux Driver Development: Writing and debugging drivers and kernel modules.
• Hardware Interfacing: Proficiency with SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, and PCIe.
• Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC).

Nice to Have

• Nvidia Jetson: Experience with JetPack SDK, L4T, and CUDA/TensorRT.
• MIPI Camera Integration: Driver development for CSI-2 sensors and ISP tuning.
• Rust: Any experience or desire to use the Rust programming language.
• UAV Domain: Experience with PX4/ArduPilot flight stacks and MAVLink.
• ROS2: Development of high-throughput nodes and DDS middleware tuning.
• GStreamer: Building hardware-accelerated video pipelines for low-latency streaming.
• Security: Implementing Secure Boot and encrypted file systems.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.