Position: Electronics Manager/Team Leader
Location: Blackburn
Salary: Up to £70,000 + Benefits

About the Role:
We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for an Electronics Manager/Team Leader to join our client during an exciting growth phase. With several innovative projects on the horizon, our client is looking to expand their engineering team over the next 12-18 months.

We are seeking a candidate with a strong foundation in electronics design, ideally with some leadership experience or someone eager to take that next step in their career with the right support. This is a hands-on role that involves both technical leadership and managing a small, growing team consisting of mechanical, electronics, and software engineers. You will oversee the day-to-day operations of the design team, ensuring smooth collaboration and project delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a team working across electronics, software, and mechanical components, driving the development of innovative products.
• Manage and mentor a small team, while providing technical direction across electronics design, including analogue, digital, and PCB design.
• Collaborate with other department heads and customers to ensure that project goals and customer requirements are met.
• Break down customer requirements and assign appropriate tasks to team members.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the engineering team as it grows over the coming months.

Ideal Candidate:

• A highly motivated individual with a passion for electronics and product development.
• Solid experience in electronics design, including analogue, digital, and PCB design. A strong understanding of embedded programming is a plus.
• Prior experience in leading technical projects or managing engineering teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively with department heads and customers.
• Enthusiastic about career progression, with aspirations to eventually move into an Engineering Director-level role.

Why Join Us:
Our client is on an exciting growth trajectory with a dynamic product roadmap and a portfolio of core customers, including leading industry names. If you are passionate about electronic product design and want to be part of an innovative journey, this is the perfect opportunity.

To apply or for more information, get in touch with Laurence Powell or Andrew Knight at KO2 Recruitment today!

FPGA Engineer – Capenhurst
Salary: £60,000

We are looking for a talented FPGA Engineer to join a cutting-edge company based in Capenhurst that designs and develops mission-critical measurement systems for use in advanced observation units. If you have experience in FPGA programming and a passion for mission-critical systems, this is an excellent opportunity to contribute to exciting and impactful technology.

As an FPGA Engineer, you will work with a skilled team to design, develop, and implement FPGA-based solutions that play a vital role in high-stakes applications. Your expertise in FPGA, VHDL, Xilinx, and embedded software will be key to developing innovative systems that support critical observational functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and implement FPGA-based solutions for mission-critical measurement systems.
• Program FPGAs using Verilog, VHDL, or comparable software tools.
• Work closely with embedded software teams to integrate FPGA solutions with software systems.
• Develop and maintain interfaces between hardware and software, ensuring seamless integration and functionality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that FPGA designs meet the required system specifications and performance standards.
• Conduct testing and debugging of FPGA systems to ensure reliability and efficiency in mission-critical environments.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in FPGA programming using Verilog, VHDL, or similar software.
• Strong knowledge of Xilinx FPGA devices and development tools.
• Experience with embedded software and its integration with FPGA systems.
• Understanding of basic electronics hardware and its interface with software systems.
• Ability to work within a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

Desirable:

• Experience with mission-critical or safety-critical systems is highly advantageous.
• Familiarity with additional hardware interfaces and communication protocols.

Why Join Us?

• Work on innovative, mission-critical projects that have real-world impact.
• Be part of a forward-thinking, dynamic company focused on advanced technology solutions.
• Competitive salary of £60,000 with opportunities for career growth.

If you are an experienced FPGA Engineer with a passion for technology that makes a difference, this is the role for you. Join a talented team working on next-generation systems and contribute to the development of cutting-edge solutions in observation units. Apply now to take the next step in your career!

Join KO2’s Client – A Leader in Complex Automation Systems Using Novel AI Techniques

Are you an ambitious developer looking to work at the cutting edge of access control technology? KO2’s client, a leader in designing and developing complex automation systems, is seeking a talented developer to join their dynamic team. Specialising in novel AI techniques, this unique business creates highly intricate automation systems used in access control that run on embedded environments.

This is a rare opportunity for a C# developer with experience in embedded systems, or a modern C++ developer keen to embrace the challenge of developing software in a memory-constrained embedded environment. You’ll work with C# in a Windows 10 IoT environment, where the technology stack is niche, and your contributions will make a real impact.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Developing complex C# software systems for cutting-edge automation in a memory-constrained embedded environment.
• Working on embedded systems that run on multiple micros and DSPs, managing thousands of lines of code.
• Using modern C++ techniques to enhance your C# skillset within an embedded environment.
• Collaborating with some of the most highly regarded embedded software engineers in the North West, who bring years of experience from leading Cambridge Consultancies and iconic Manchester software institutions.

The client is flexible and will consider:

1. C# Developer with experience in embedded memory-constrained environments.
2. Modern C++ Developer eager to transition into the world of C# and embedded systems.
3. C# or C++ Developer from a non-embedded background with a passion for electronics and embedded software.

Why Join KO2’s Client?

• This is a hybrid role, offering the flexibility to work from home and onsite in Manchester. While you’ll be expected to have a weekly onsite presence, this company offers a grown-up approach to work-life balance. If you perform, you’ll be trusted to manage your time.
• Competitive salary between £45,000 and £55,000, alongside exceptional benefits.
• Be part of a team that works with some of the most talented minds in embedded software engineering.

This is an exciting opportunity for developers who want to make their mark in an embedded environment while gaining valuable experience working with C#, modern C++, and novel AI-driven automation systems. If you’re ready to take your career to the next level, apply now and join one of the best teams in the business.

KO2’s client is ready to bring on board developers who are driven, adaptable, and eager to grow in an embedded C# and modern C++ environment.

Salary: £45,000 – £55,000

Location: Hybrid – Manchester (Onsite Weekly)

Exceptional Benefits Included!

Job Title: C# Software Developer (Embedded Linux Environment)

Location: Bury, UK
Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum
Working Hours: 5 Days per week (On-site in Bury)

Company Overview:

Our client is a leading provider of vehicle telematics solutions, specializing in real-time monitoring, reporting, and firmware updates for vehicle systems. Based in Bury, they are at the forefront of developing innovative embedded software for a wide range of applications, with a particular focus on communication between MCUs, sensors, and vehicles via CANbus. Their technology is central to providing actionable data and insights to ensure efficient vehicle management and operation.

Tech Stack Overview:

The company operates with a multi-layered tech stack involving a combination of embedded systems, cloud infrastructure, and real-time data processing. The key components include:

• Linux PC (Ubuntu): The core of the system that interacts with servers and handles key functions, including data reporting and firmware updates.
• MCUs (Microcontroller Units): 19 different types communicating with sensors (such as temperature sensors) via CANbus.
• C# and C++: Used in various parts of the software stack, from the embedded system to the server-side applications.
• Bash Scripting: To manage tasks within the Linux environment.
• Server-Side (SQL, C#): The server-side software handles data processing, storage, and firmware management.

As a Software Developer, you will be working within this environment to contribute to both the development of new features and the refactoring of legacy systems.

Role Description:

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled C# Software Developer with experience in embedded Linux environments to join our client’s team in Bury. This is a fantastic opportunity to work on a long-term project to rewrite and improve existing software systems, develop new features, and architect solutions to enhance the vehicle telematics system.

Key Responsibilities:

• Development & Maintenance: Rewriting and enhancing the existing software that controls vehicle telematics systems. You will work on both the embedded Linux side and the server-side C# applications.
• C# and C++ Development: Develop C# applications that run on Linux-based systems and communicate with hardware components using CANbus.
• Firmware Updates: Write control logic for hardware interaction, including tasks like setting fan speeds and monitoring sensors. You’ll work closely with the hardware to ensure seamless interaction between the software and vehicle sensors.
• Software Architecture: Participate in designing and architecting a scalable, maintainable software application using best practices and design patterns.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other software developers, firmware engineers, and system architects to implement new features and ensure the overall system’s integrity.
• Problem-Solving: Work under short-term, high-pressure deadlines to implement new features, while maintaining a long-term vision for system improvement and software architecture.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience with C# or modern C++ in a Linux environment, especially in embedded or low-level software development.
• Strong understanding of Linux systems, preferably Ubuntu, and experience with shell scripting (Bash).
• Familiarity with hardware interaction in embedded systems, such as controlling sensors and reading from CANbus.
• Ability to write efficient, reliable, and maintainable software that interacts with embedded hardware.
• Experience with firmware development, especially in C or C# on embedded Linux systems.
• Understanding of software design patterns and best practices in system architecture.
• Interest in electronics and the ability to understand hardware-level communication.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable Skills:

• Familiarity with SQL and database-driven applications.
• Experience with vehicle telematics systems or related industries.
• Knowledge of embedded systems design and constraints.
• Ability to write and maintain clean, reusable, and testable code.
• Understanding of real-time systems and their requirements.

What We Offer:

• A competitive salary of up to £65,000 per year.
• An exciting long-term project with the opportunity to influence the software architecture of an innovative vehicle telematics solution.
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with a strong team-oriented culture.
• The chance to learn and develop skills in both C# and embedded Linux development.

If you are a skilled C# or C++ developer with a passion for embedded systems and vehicle telematics, we’d love to hear from you! Join us in Bury and help shape the future of telematics technology!