South Archives | KO2 Recruitment

Edge AI Engineer

Edge AI Engineer | Fast-Growing Tech Company

Location: Stroud, Gloucestershire

Salary: Up to £70,000

About the Company

KO2’s client is a rapidly expanding technology company based in Stroud, developing cutting-edge intelligent systems that sit at the intersection of embedded engineering and artificial intelligence. With strong investment and an exciting product roadmap, they are looking to bring on an Edge AI Engineer to help shape the next generation of smart, connected devices.

The Role

As an Edge AI Engineer, you will design and deploy AI models directly onto embedded hardware, working closely with multidisciplinary teams across hardware, firmware, and data science. This is a hands-on role where you will take solutions from concept through to real-world deployment. You will be required to achieve SC clearance in this role, if you have it already that is ideal.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and optimise AI/ML models for edge devices
Integrate sensor data into Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)
Design and implement Digital Signal Processing (DSP) pipelines
Develop and maintain microcontroller software (C/C++ or similar)
Work on mesh networking solutions for distributed device communication
Collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure seamless system integration
Optimise performance for low-power, resource-constrained environments

Required Skills & Experience

Strong experience in Edge AI / Embedded Machine Learning
Proven knowledge of integrating sensor data with CNNs
Solid understanding of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques
Knowledge or experience with mesh networking protocols
Proficiency in C/C++ and/or Python
Familiarity with embedded Linux is a plus
Ability to hold SC clearance.

Desirable Skills

Experience with TinyML or similar frameworks
Knowledge of wireless communication protocols (BLE, Zigbee, LoRa, etc.)
Experience deploying models using TensorFlow Lite or similar

If you’re passionate about bringing AI out of the cloud and into real-world devices, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch with KO2 Recruitment for more details.

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Senior Embedded Software Engineer
Eastbourne, East Sussex
3 days onsite | 2 days remote

Competitive salary + Bonus up to 7.5%

KO2’s client, a well-established and financially stable engineering company, is looking to recruit a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to join their growing development team in Eastbourne. This is an excellent opportunity to join a business known for long-term stability, strong engineering culture, and investment in innovation.

Working in a collaborative multi-disciplinary team, you’ll play a key role in the development of embedded software for advanced electronic systems, contributing across the full software development lifecycle from requirements capture through to release and validation.

The position offers a hybrid working model with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote each week.

The Role

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you will develop and support embedded software used in controller systems, instrumentation, and interfaces. You will work on both new product development and enhancements to existing platforms, helping deliver robust, production-ready software for global projects.

You’ll collaborate closely with engineers across hardware, systems, and product teams while also providing technical guidance within the software group.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain embedded software for controller and instrumentation platforms
Work across the full software development lifecycle, from requirements capture to validation and release
Design scalable, maintainable software architectures that promote code reuse and collaboration
Participate in Agile/SCRUM-based development projects
Support integration and testing of software with hardware systems
Investigate and diagnose software and hardware related issues
Develop test harnesses, automation tools, and validation scripts
Ensure code is delivered with appropriate design and test documentation
Contribute to improvements in software development processes and quality standards
Provide technical mentoring and guidance to less experienced engineers

Skills & Experience Required

Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline
Strong embedded software development experience
Experience developing software for electronics-based products
Familiarity with embedded processors and hardware interaction
Experience working within structured software development processes
Understanding of Agile / SCRUM development methodologies
Experience delivering production-ready embedded systems
Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose embedded software and hardware issues
Experience working within multi-disciplinary engineering teams

Desirable Experience

Experience working within regulated or compliance-driven industries
Experience working within global engineering teams
Exposure to automation, test development, or software validation frameworks

Why Join KO2’s Client?

Stable and well-established engineering business
Hybrid working: 3 days onsite / 2 days remote
Annual bonus up to 7.5%
Strong culture of collaboration, trust, and accountability
Opportunities for career development and technical progression
Work on complex engineering systems within a highly skilled team

Lead Embedded Software Engineer

March 17, 2026/in South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Lead Embedded Software Engineer

Eastbourne, East Sussex

3 days onsite | 2 days remote

Salary up to £65,000 + Bonus up to 7.5%

KO2’s client, a stable and well-established engineering company, is seeking a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to join their development team in Eastbourne. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced engineer who enjoys both hands-on development and technical leadership, working within a collaborative and forward-thinking engineering environment.

This role offers a hybrid working arrangement of 3 days onsite and 2 days remote, along with the opportunity to work on complex embedded systems that support a range of advanced electronic products.

As a Lead Embedded Software Engineer, you will take responsibility for architecting and guiding the development of embedded software used within controller systems, instrumentation, and electronic interfaces. You’ll be involved in all stages of the software development lifecycle, from requirements capture through to validation and release.

You’ll also play a key role in technical leadership, helping shape software architecture, mentoring engineers, and ensuring projects are delivered to high technical and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the architecture and development of embedded software solutions for advanced electronic systems
Work across the full software development lifecycle, from concept and requirements through to release and validation
Design robust, scalable software architectures that enable reliable and maintainable products
Maintain awareness of technology trends and product roadmaps, identifying opportunities for future software innovation
Take on team leadership responsibilities, including acting as a SCRUM Master where required
Support effective Agile software development processes, including sprint reviews and retrospectives
Mentor and coach engineers within the team, promoting best practices and technical excellence
Ensure clear software completion criteria and robust testing strategies
Maintain and improve automated regression test frameworks and validation processes
Oversee the release of production-ready software, ensuring appropriate design documentation and governance
Collaborate with multi-disciplinary engineering teams and stakeholders to deliver successful projects

Skills & Experience Required

Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or a related field
Strong embedded software development experience within electronics-based systems
Experience developing software architectures for embedded products
Experience delivering production-ready electronic systems in an engineering environment
Understanding of embedded processors and hardware interaction
Experience with Agile and Waterfall development methodologies
Experience acting as a SCRUM Master, Product Owner, or technical project lead
Strong understanding of software development processes within regulated or compliance-driven industries
Experience collaborating within multi-disciplinary engineering teams

Desirable Experience

Experience working with international engineering teams
Experience managing integrated software and electronics development projects
Exposure to automated testing and regression frameworks

Why Join KO2’s Client?

Salary up to £65,000 plus bonus up to 7.5%
Hybrid working – 3 days onsite / 2 days remote
Work within a stable, financially strong organisation
Opportunity to lead technical direction and mentor engineers
Strong culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Excellent opportunities for career progression and professional development

Lead Power Electronics Engineer

March 17, 2026/in South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Lead Power Electronics Engineer
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Onsite – 5 days per week
Salary up to £65,000 + Bonus up to 7.5%

KO2’s client, a well-established and financially stable engineering organisation, is looking to recruit a Lead Power Electronics Engineer to join their engineering team in Eastbourne. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced electronics engineer to take a technical leadership role in the design and development of advanced electronic systems.

Due to the hands-on nature of the hardware development and testing, this role is fully onsite in Eastbourne and offers the chance to work closely with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, product management, and operations.

The Role

As a Lead Power Electronics Engineer, you will play a key role in driving the design, development, and delivery of innovative electronic solutions across multiple product lines. Acting as a senior technical authority within the team, you will guide engineering decisions, ensure best practices in electronics design, and support the successful transition of products from concept through to production.

You will work closely with engineers across multiple disciplines, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the delivery of high-performance, reliable electronic systems that meet both business objectives and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of advanced electronic systems, ensuring high standards of performance, reliability, and manufacturability
Maintain awareness of product roadmaps and technology developments, identifying opportunities for innovation and future product improvements
Integrate advanced electronic techniques and design approaches to enhance product capability and competitiveness
Ensure a holistic approach to product development, balancing design optimisation with manufacturability, quality, and reliability
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering team members, promoting best practices and guiding projects to successful completion
Lead the resolution of complex technical challenges, using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques
Collaborate with product management and cross-functional teams to define and deliver new product capabilities within project timelines
Work closely with external suppliers and technical specialists to incorporate new technologies and strengthen the team’s knowledge base
Ensure designs support effective component and system-level testing and meet safety and compliance requirements

Skills & Experience Required

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related discipline
Strong experience in electronic circuit design, including both analogue and digital systems
Significant experience working in global, multi-disciplinary engineering environments
Expertise in analogue electronics design, including areas such as low-noise amplifiers and RF amplifier design
Strong understanding of high-speed digital design principles
Experience designing high voltage electronic circuits and instrumentation
Experience working with microcontroller-based systems (e.g., ARM, DSP architectures)
Knowledge of high-speed communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, RS485, RS232, CANopen, and fieldbus technologies
Experience using schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium or OrCAD
Experience working within regulated or compliance-driven industries or high-reliability environments (e.g., aerospace, medical, industrial systems)
Understanding of product safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards such as EN 61010
Strong understanding of product development processes and the ability to recommend improvements
Experience working with global engineering teams and cross-disciplinary design groups

Desirable Experience

Membership of a professional body such as the IET, or working toward Chartered Engineer status
Experience using engineering or product lifecycle tools such as SAP or Silicon Expert
Experience working within Agile (SCRUM) and Waterfall project management frameworks
Experience working closely with suppliers and external technology partners

Why Join KO2’s Client?

Salary up to £65,000 plus bonus up to 7.5%
Work within a stable and globally established engineering organisation
Opportunity to take a technical leadership role in complex electronics development
Work alongside highly skilled multidisciplinary engineering teams
Opportunity to contribute to innovative, high-performance electronic systems
Strong culture of engineering excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Contract Manufacturing Engineering Manager – PCBA

March 13, 2026/in Greater London, South Contract /by Chris Oddy

Rate: up to £60 per hour, outside IR35

Contract length: 12 months initially

A leading electronics organisation in Horsham is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the electronics manufacturing engineering function responsible for PCBA production used in complex electronic equipment.

This role is critical in shaping the future of the company’s electronics manufacturing capability, including defining production processes, selecting equipment, and leading new product introductions into manufacturing.

The Role

You will lead the manufacturing engineering team responsible for PCB assembly processes, ensuring robust, scalable manufacturing capability for new and existing products.

You will also act as the technical authority for electronics assembly, advising the wider business on process capability, equipment investment, and manufacturing strategy.

Key responsibilities:

Managing a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians
Leading introduction of new electronic products into production
Defining and optimising PCBA manufacturing processes
Providing technical leadership across SMT and through-hole assembly technologies
Selecting and specifying electronics manufacturing equipment
Supporting manufacturing improvements and process optimisation
Working with ERP/MRP systems (preferably SAP) to define:
- Bills of Materials (BOM)
- Manufacturing routings
Acting as the internal expert on PCBA manufacturing processes
Supporting troubleshooting and root cause analysis of production issues

Required Experience

Strong background in PCBA manufacturing
Experience with Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through-Hole assembly
Leadership or management experience within manufacturing engineering
Experience introducing new electronic products into production
Knowledge of electronics assembly equipment and process selection
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (ideally SAP)

Ideal Candidate

You may currently be:

A Manufacturing Engineering Manager in electronics manufacturing
A Senior Manufacturing Engineer / Lead Engineer ready to step into management

Contract Manufacturing Engineer / Process Engineer (Through‑Hole PCBA)

March 12, 2026/in South Contract /by Chris Oddy

Rate: up to £55 per hour (outside IR35)
Location: Crawley, West Sussex
Contract: 6 months (extension likely)
Start: ASAP

A contract opportunity for an experienced Manufacturing or Process Engineer with strong knowledge of through‑hole PCBA assembly. You’ll support the development, optimisation, and configuration of electronics manufacturing processes, focusing on how boards are built and how equipment is programmed.

What you’ll be doing
• Define assembly sequences for through‑hole PCBAs
• Configure and program semi‑automatic placement equipment
• Support programming of wave soldering machines
• Develop and refine processes for conventional leaded components
• Work closely with production teams to improve efficiency
• Drive continuous improvement across the electronics assembly area

This is an engineering and process definition role, not hands‑on board assembly.

Skills and Experience required:
• Experience in electronics assembly / PCBA manufacturing
• Strong understanding of through‑hole components and processes
• Background with semi‑automatic placement machinery
• Knowledge of wave soldering
• A process‑driven mindset and practical approach to optimisation

Electronic Design Engineer

March 3, 2026/in South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Electronic Design Engineer
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Up to £70,000

KO2’s client, a fast-growing innovator in advanced sensing and exploration technology, is looking for a driven Electronic Engineer to strengthen its in-house hardware capability and help shape a best-in-class design function.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting-edge start-up environment where you’ll take real ownership across the full product lifecycle, contributing to next-generation aerospace and space-focused solutions.

The Role

As an Electronic Engineer, you’ll take responsibility for complete electronic product development — from initial requirements and concept design through to validation, testing, and production release. Working within a collaborative and forward-thinking team, you’ll have a direct impact on both the technology roadmap and engineering standards.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the full lifecycle of electronic product development
Design and develop PCBs, low-power architectures, and RF/antenna systems (including LoRa and other long-range, low-power technologies)
Develop MCU firmware, particularly on Nordic nRF52 or similar low-power platforms
Implement Edge ML solutions, including CNNs for audio and image processing
Integrate long-range wireless communication systems
Design advanced energy-harvesting systems, including photovoltaic solutions and MPPT circuits
Work closely with manufacturing partners to ensure robust design-for-manufacture (DFM) practice

About You

Strong background in PCB design and low-power electronics
Proven experience developing MCU firmware (ideally Nordic nRF52)
Understanding of RF and wireless technologies
Exposure to Edge ML/IoT and deploying CNNs on embedded systems
Knowledge of digital signal processing (Fourier/Wavelet) and acoustics (desirable)
Degree-qualified in Electronic Engineering or a related STEM discipline
Eligible to obtain SC security clearance

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working in high-impact, innovation-driven environments and wants to play a key role in building breakthrough technologies from the ground up.

To apply, contact KO2 Recruitment with your latest CV.

Please note: sponsorship is not available for this role, and candidates must be eligible to obtain SC security clearance.

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

February 26, 2026/in South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Location: Stroud, Gloucestershire

Salary: Up to £70,000

KO2’s client is an ambitious, well funded and fast-growing technology start-up based in Stroud, developing advanced sensing and monitoring systems that combine low-power embedded platforms, intelligent signal processing, and secure wireless connectivity.

The Role – Senior Embedded Software Engineer

You will be responsible for the full embedded development lifecycle:

Scoping and requirements definition
System architecture (hardware & software)
Simulation and modelling
Firmware development
Integration and verification
Validation and production release

The successful Embedded Software Engineer will work closely with hardware, data, and product engineers to deliver robust, secure, and power-efficient sensing platforms operating in demanding real-world environments.

Key Responsibilities

Architect and develop low-power embedded firmware (C/C++) for sensor platforms
Design for ultra-low power consumption in battery-operated and remote systems
Implement sensor data acquisition and processing pipelines (e.g. MEMS microphones, accelerometers and other environmental sensors)
Develop and optimise RF communications systems, particularly:
LoRa or similar LPWAN technologies
Mesh networking architectures
Implement secure communications including encryption, authentication and secure boot mechanisms
Develop machine learning-enabled acoustic detection and classification systems:
Data pre-processing and feature extraction
Deployment of optimised ML models on constrained embedded devices

Essential Experience

Significant experience in embedded C/C++ development
Strong experience across the full product lifecycle (concept → production)
Proven expertise designing for low-power embedded systems
Experience with sensor data acquisition and real-time signal processing
Strong RF communications experience, particularly LoRa or comparable technologies
Experience implementing mesh networking protocols
Solid understanding of embedded security (encryption, authentication, secure firmware updates)
Strong debugging and hardware bring-up skills

Highly Desirable

Machine learning for acoustic detection/classification
Experience with MEMS microphone-based systems
Wind/ambient noise mitigation design (hardware and software)
Secure OTA update mechanisms
Experience in a start-up or high-growth environment

If you’re a Senior Embedded Software Engineer looking to build intelligent, low-power sensing systems from the ground up — KO2 would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with you.

Senior Electronics Engineer

January 23, 2026/in Midlands, South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Senior Electronics Engineer

Salary: Up to £85,000
Location: Cambridge (Hybrid – 1 day per week from home)

KO2’s client is a highly respected, product-led company at the forefront of regulated technology development. They’re looking for a Senior Electronics Engineer to join a collaborative, forward-thinking engineering team working on complex, high-impact products.

This role is ideal for an engineer with strong experience across analogue and digital electronics, multilayer PCB design, firmware and an interest in FPGA development. You’ll be involved throughout the product lifecycle, contributing to innovative solutions in a highly regulated environment where precision, quality, and compliance truly matter.

The Role

Design and develop analogue and digital electronic systems for regulated products
Design multilayer PCB’s
Contribute to firmware development
Work within structured, compliant development processes
Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams
Contribute to FPGA development as part of cutting-edge product designs

What They’re Looking For

A strong background in analogue and digital electronics
Experience with, or a genuine interest in, FPGA design using Verilog
A mindset suited to regulated industries, with a focus on quality, documentation, and compliance
Ability to work within a collaborative team environment

This is a fantastic opportunity for an Electronics Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, working on meaningful products, and thriving in environments where engineering excellence is essential.

Benefits Package

Profit share (including a tax-free element)
26 days holiday + bank holidays + buy/sell options
9% employer pension contribution from day one
Private medical insurance
Death in service & income protection

Apply today to KO2’s client and play a key role in shaping the future of innovative, regulated product design.

Electronics Engineer (Embedded C)

December 15, 2025/in Greater London, South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Sports Technology | Permanent
Vauxhall, London (Hybrid – 3 days onsite / 2 remote)
Up to £65,000

KO2 are working with an innovative sports technology company based in Vauxhall, developing high-performance electronic systems used in elite sport. The client is flexible, so please apply if you can design electronics and write embedded software, albeit not at expert level, they are happy to mentor on the embedded software side.

KO2’s client are looking for an electronics led engineer who can also write embedded software in C. This is a hands-on role working across the full product lifecycle, from PCB design through to embedded bring-up and testing.

The Role

Electronics design from concept to production (schematics, PCB layout, bring-up)
Embedded software development and debugging in C (some C++ exposure useful)
Working with microcontrollers and embedded systems
Supporting testing, fault-finding and real-world deployment

The Profile

Strong electronics engineering background
Experience designing PCBs (Altium for production, KiCad also used)
Able to write and debug embedded C
Ideally 4+ years’ experience
Skill split typically 70/30 or 80/20 in favour of electronics, but strong 50/50 engineers also considered

This is not a pure electronics role, solid embedded c experience is needed, at some level.

What’s on Offer

Salary up to £65,000
Hybrid working (3 days in the Vauxhall office)
Permanent role working on real, deployed sports technology
Unique opportunity to work for a season at the company’s facility in Austria

If you can design electronics and write embedded C, at any balance between the two, this is a rare and exciting opportunity.