Principal Software Engineer

Cosham
5 days ago
Create job alert

Principal Software Engineer – C++

Salary - £65K-£85K negotiable depending on experience plus competitive benefits package including pension, 25 days holiday and life assurance.

Our client is a rapidly growing software and data science consultancy firm, renowned for their reputation and keen ability to understand and meet customer requirements effectively. Their team is dedicated to delivering high-quality, end-to-end software and data science services. This role offers the opportunity to work with these teams to operate across multiple sectors, including defence, energy, transport, and health, and contribute to the development of cutting-edge solutions.

They are looking for principal software engineers with a range of levels of experience including designing, delivering software applications, and leading teams.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will play a major role in developing code 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:

  • 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.

  • Delivering technical consulting projects and products, with the opportunity to lead some of these

  • Building new relationships and maintaining current customer relationships.

    Essential requirements re role of Principal Software Engineer:

  • At least 15 years’ experience in designing and implementing performant software applications.

  • Apply mathematical principles or statistical approaches to solve problems in scientific or applied fields.

  • Proficient in C/C++ or C# and Python.

  • Demonstratable skills in stakeholder management including influencing, negotiating and conflict management.

  • Demonstratable experience and capability in writing proposals and coordinating bid management activity.

  • Experience of 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)

  • Entity or 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.

  • Supporting and leading authoring of technical reports and presenting to customers.

  • Be willing to travel across UK and comfortable to work at client sites for periods (occasional).

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

  • The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level or have equivalent relevant experience.

  • STEM / computing background.

  • Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint, Word.

    The ideal candidate will have experience in managing a project from start to finish. This candidate will be able to create a plan of action which will consider a fixed timeline and evaluate risks. This individual should also have experience managing people and be an effective communicator.

    Our client is looking for candidates with SC or DV UK Security Clearance as you will be working on defence/government-based projects

    Keywords – Software Engineering, Software Engineer, C, C++, C#, Python, Defence, Wargames, Modelling, Simulation, STEM Computing, Robotics, Autonomous Systems Digital Twins, Synthetic Environments, Mathematical, Computational methods, Proposals , Bids, Videogame Engine, Unreal Engine, Godot , SC Cleared, DV Cleared.

    Principal Software Engineer – C

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Principal Software Engineer (C++/Unreal)

Principal Software Engineer (C++ / Unreal Engine)

Senior Software Engineer

Principal Embedded Software Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Structural Engineer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

The Skills Gap in Robotics Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Robotics is no longer confined to science fiction or isolated research labs. Today, robots perform critical tasks across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, defence, hospitality and even education. In the UK, businesses are embracing automation to improve productivity, reduce costs and tackle labour shortages. Yet despite strong interest and a growing number of university programmes in robotics, many employers report a persistent problem: graduates are not job-ready for real-world robotics roles. This is not a question of intelligence or dedication. It is a widening skills gap between what universities teach and what employers actually need in robotics jobs. In this article, we’ll explore that gap in depth — what universities do well, where their programmes often fall short, why the disconnect exists, what employers really want, and how you can bridge the divide to build a thriving career in robotics.

Robotics Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

Robotics looks futuristic from the outside. People picture humanoid machines, cutting-edge labs & young engineers writing complex code. In the UK job market, the reality is more practical and more encouraging for career switchers: robotics is already embedded across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, defence, construction & inspection. That means there are real jobs for people in their 30s, 40s & 50s who bring operational experience, delivery skills, quality discipline & the ability to work with real-world systems. This article gives you a clear UK reality check on robotics careers for career switchers: what roles genuinely exist, which paths are most realistic, what skills employers actually hire for, how long retraining tends to take & whether age is a factor.

How to Write a Robotics Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Robotics is moving rapidly from research labs into real-world deployment. Across the UK, robots are now used in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, defence, agriculture, autonomous vehicles and service industries. As adoption accelerates, demand for skilled robotics professionals continues to grow. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Robotics job adverts often receive either very few applications or large numbers of unsuitable ones. Experienced robotics engineers, meanwhile, routinely skip adverts that feel vague, unrealistic or disconnected from how robotics systems actually work in practice. In most cases, the problem is not the talent pool — it is the job advert itself. Robotics professionals are systems thinkers. They care deeply about constraints, integration and real-world performance. A poorly written job ad signals weak technical understanding and unrealistic expectations. A well-written one signals credibility, seriousness and a mature robotics programme. This guide explains how to write a robotics job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and positions your organisation as a credible employer in the robotics sector.