Freelance Embedded SW / Firmware Engineer Consultant

Senior Embedded / Firmware Software Engineer (Freelance)

Urgent Defence & Space Project | Real-Time Embedded Systems

We’re supporting an urgent, high-impact defence and space programme and are looking for an experienced Senior Embedded / Firmware Software Engineer to join on a freelance basis.

This is a hands-on role focused on low-level embedded software and firmware for real-time, safety-critical systems, working close to the hardware. You’ll collaborate with electronics, systems and multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver robust, production-ready embedded solutions used in demanding operational environments.

If you enjoy solving hard real-time problems, working at the boundary between software and hardware, and seeing your code operate in mission-critical systems, this will suit you well.

What you’ll be doing

• Translating system-level requirements into firmware and embedded software architectures
• Designing and implementing bare-metal and RTOS-based software for ARM-based platforms
• Developing drivers, middleware, secure bootloaders and real-time application code
• Supporting hardware bring-up and low-level debugging alongside PCB designers
• Working on control logic, state machines, signal processing and timing-critical code
• Building and maintaining test benches, HIL/HITL environments and automated tests
• Debugging using JTAG/SWD, logic analysers and electronic lab equipment
• Maintaining clean, readable code under Git version control
• Producing clear technical documentation and supporting cross-team integration

What we’re looking for

• Strong commercial experience in embedded software / firmware development (typically 5+ years)
• Excellent C / C++ skills (Python exposure beneficial)
• Solid experience with ARM-based MCUs and processors (e.g. STM32, Cortex-M/A, Jetson/Orin)
• Proven background in bare-metal and low-level embedded development
• Hands-on experience with I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet from driver to application level
• Comfortable collaborating directly with electronics and hardware engineers
• Experience working with Git and structured version control
• Ability to take ownership, lead technically, and operate autonomously in fast-moving programmes
• Strong English communication skills

Nice to have

• Experience in defence, space, aerospace or other safety-critical environments
• Exposure to RTOS, embedded Linux, ROS 2, MAVLink or similar middleware
• HIL/HITL testbed design or simulator experience
• Secure boot, cryptography or safety-driven software practices
• Familiarity with system orchestration, control systems or distributed embedded architectures
• Knowledge of MISRA C, DO-178C or regulated engineering environments

Contract details

• Freelance / Contract
• Urgent start
• Competitive day rate
• Technically challenging work on defence and space systems

If you’re a senior embedded engineer available for a new contract and want to work on complex, mission-critical defence and space programmes, apply now or get in touch for a confidential discussion.