Senior Software Engineer

Job Description:

The Opportunity

Are you a Software Engineer with C++ experience looking for your next challenge?

Here at Leonardo, we are on the hunt for talented software engineers to support our Integrated Sensors & Protection line of business, working on a range of defence and commercial projects. Direct industry experience is not required, we are happy to explore all backgrounds and help develop all our software engineers.

What you will do:

We want to develop a new generation of features and capabilities using innovative software solutions and we need you to help create them. You will be a key part in a community of brilliant software engineers who want to continuously improve, collaborate and innovate with other engineers to create Test Engineering solutions, contributing to the production of market-leading products within the defence and commercial industry.

What we are looking for:

Essential Skills and Characteristics

• C++ or relevant Object Oriented software development
• Familiarity with Electronics and lower-level firmware
• Using and generating documentation to create interfaces machine to machine
• Test frameworks and test development
• Microservices architecture/containerisation
• Development of new applications to meet user expectations and within formal constraints. HMI/GUI/UX experience needed.
• Familiarity with the tools and approaches to interface with hardware
• Experience with developing Windows & Linux applications.
• Experience of using Iterative development lifecycles (for example tailored Agile.)
• Experience using tools associated with Iterative development lifecycles (Jira / DevOps / Git)
• Familiarity with development to design and coding standards.
• Good teamwork and communication abilities

Useful to have

• Python, C#, LabVIEW software development Experience
• CUDA integration (AI/ML)
• Industrial protocols (read-across to Synergia etc.)
• Experience with Infrared
• Physics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, ITQSB or Relevant Higher Level Formal Qualifications

What you will get:

• Flexible working: We offer our employees time and flexibility they need to enjoy a balanced life through flexible hours and part time options.
  • Flexibility is supported and can be agreed alongside project needs.
  • This position will require working our Southampton office 2-3 days a week. Employees are welcome to work onsite 5 days a week, but our flexible working also allows working from home. This project and role will require time onsite regularly, but it will vary depending on the work required and support need to the wider team.
• Flexible benefits: Our company-funded approach to flexible benefits allows employees to make choices appropriate for them. Each employee has access to a wide choice of lifestyle, health and wellbeing options best suited to their individual lifestyle goals.
• Above average employer pension contributions
• Annual bonus
• Annual leave: We offer 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and 12 flexi days
• Network groups : To demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion we have network groups for
  • Carers (employees who care for someone who is either older, disabled or seriously ill)
  • Enable (supporting people with disabilities)
  • Equalise (development of a gender balanced workforce)
  • Pride (promoting equality for all LGBTQ+ individuals)
  • We also work in partnership with AFBE (Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers).

To find out about all of our Company benefits please visit:

Security Clearance:

You must be eligible for full security clearance (SC). For more information and guidance, please visit -

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location:

GB - Southampton

Contract Type:

Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid