€130,000+ bonus Defence C++/ Python Software Engineer

C++ Engineer (Defence / Security Cleared)

Location: Remote (UK / Europe)

Clearance: Active SC or DV required, or eligible to obtain

Company: Kessari

Focus: Real-time autonomy in GPS-denied environments

Role

We are building a modular autonomy system that integrates into existing UAV platforms. This role focuses on high-performance, real-time C++ systems deployed onto mission-critical hardware.

You will be working on software that runs on live systems, not simulation-only environments.

Requirements

• 7+ years professional experience in modern C++ (C++14/17/20)

• Background in defence, aerospace, or safety-critical systems

• Experience with real-time or low-latency systems

• Strong understanding of multi-threading, memory management, and performance optimisation

• Experience with Linux (Ubuntu or embedded Linux)

• Experience integrating sensors such as camera, IMU, or LiDAR

• Ability to debug and optimise at the hardware/software boundary

Clearance Requirement (non-negotiable)

• Must hold active SC or DV clearance, or

• Must be eligible to obtain security clearance under UK, EU, or NATO-aligned frameworks

Strong Advantage

• UAV, robotics, or autonomous systems experience

• ROS2 or similar middleware

• Integration of computer vision models into C++ pipelines

• SLAM, tracking, or navigation systems

• GPU acceleration (CUDA)

• Experience operating in GPS-denied environments

Responsibilities

• Build and optimise high-performance C++ modules for autonomy

• Integrate perception, navigation, and control systems

• Ensure real-time performance on constrained hardware

• Work with computer vision and embedded teams to deploy models to edge devices

• Support field testing and live system validation

• Contribute to scaling from TRL5 to TRL7

What Matters

• You have shipped real systems, not just research

• You understand latency, compute, and reliability constraints

• You take ownership and deliver under pressure

Package

• Competitive salary aligned to senior defence and autonomy engineering benchmarks

• Equity

• High ownership and direct impact

Screening Criteria

Applications will only be considered if all of the following are met:

• 7+ years professional C++ experience

• Defence, aerospace, or safety-critical background

• Active security clearance or clear eligibility

• Experience building and deploying real-world systems

Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be reviewed.