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Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Senior Embedded Software Engineer (Motor Control & Real-Time Systems)
Location: Reading with Hybrid WFH

KO2’s client, a cutting-edge and rapidly scaling start-up based in Reading, is looking for a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to play a key role in developing next-generation motor drive and propulsion systems.

This is a high-impact opportunity to work on advanced embedded platforms at the intersection of real-time control, power electronics, and high-performance firmware, helping to shape both product direction and engineering culture from an early stage.

What You’ll Do

Design and implement real-time embedded firmware for ESC controllers and next-generation motor drive systems, from initial architecture through to production release
Develop and optimise motor control algorithms for BLDC motors, including field-oriented control, sensorless commutation, and current loop tuning
Integrate sensors and implement feedback control systems for position, speed, and current regulation
Own and implement communication stacks including CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, and DShot, and define telemetry interfaces
Optimise firmware for performance, memory efficiency, and deterministic real-time behaviour on resource-constrained microcontrollers
Collaborate closely with power electronics engineers to define hardware–firmware interfaces (gate drivers, current sensing, ADC configuration, protection logic)
Lead firmware architecture decisions including RTOS selection, scheduling strategies, and platform abstraction
Establish engineering best practices: version control, code reviews, testing frameworks, and CI/CD pipelines
Conduct system-level validation including hardware-in-the-loop testing, dynamometer integration, and field trials

Required Skills and Experience

5+ years of hands-on experience in embedded C/C++ for real-time systems
Proven experience in motor control, power electronics, or high-reliability embedded systems
Experience in a technical lead or architect role, owning firmware from concept through production
Strong expertise in RTOS (e.g. FreeRTOS, Zephyr), including scheduling, interrupts, and deterministic timing
Experience implementing and debugging communication protocols (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C)
Strong debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and hardware tools
Proficiency with Git, CI/CD pipelines, unit testing, and modern development workflows

Preferred

Background in aerospace, defence, or UAV systems, particularly propulsion or ESC development
Knowledge of advanced motor control techniques (FOC, sensorless control, space vector modulation)
Familiarity with safety-critical standards (DO-178C, IEC 61508, MISRA C)
Understanding of power electronics fundamentals (PWM, gate drivers, current sensing, thermal considerations)

What’s on Offer

Opportunity to join a cutting-edge start-up at a pivotal growth stage
Work on industry-leading technology with real-world impact
Competitive salary, equity, and benefits package
Flexible and hybrid working options
A highly collaborative, ambitious, and technically driven culture.

Apply today with an up-to-date CV and a member of the KO2 team will be in touch to progress your application.

Power Electronics Engineer – Torque Control

Power Electronics Engineer – Torque Control
Location: Bracknell Area (Hybrid Working Available)
Salary: Up to £100,000 + Benefits

Are you a talented Power Electronics Engineer looking to work on cutting-edge technology at the early stages of development? Our client, an innovative and fast-growing engineering company based in the Bracknell area, is seeking a skilled individual to join their team and play a key role in a brand-new, torque control focussed project with significant long-term potential.

The Opportunity

This is a rare chance to get involved at the ground level of an exciting new programme, where your expertise will directly influence product direction, architecture, and performance. You’ll work within a collaborative, forward-thinking environment, contributing to the design and development of advanced power electronic systems.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop power electronics systems and components for torque-driven applications
Work across the full product lifecycle, from concept through to validation and production
Develop and optimise inverter, converter, and motor drive systems
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including mechanical, control systems, and embedded software engineers
Conduct testing, simulation, and performance analysis to ensure robust and efficient designs
Support prototyping and early-stage product development

Requirements

Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related discipline
Proven experience in power electronics design (e.g., inverters, converters, motor drives)
Strong understanding of torque control systems and related applications
Experience with simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, LTspice)
Knowledge of control algorithms and embedded systems is desirable
Ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving R&D environment

What’s on Offer

Competitive salary up to £100,000
Hybrid working model (flexible home/office split)
Generous benefits package (including pension, bonus, and more)
Opportunity to work on a pioneering project from its earliest stages
Clear career progression within a growing organisation

If you’re passionate about innovation and want to make a tangible impact on next-generation technology, this could be the perfect role for you.

Apply now to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Embedded Software Engineer

March 31, 2026/in Greater London Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Embedded Software Engineer

Location: Ealing area

Salary: Up to £65,000 + Extensive benefits

The Role

KO2’s client is seeking a talented Embedded Software Engineer to help deliver robust, high-quality embedded software for existing and future electric products. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the full product lifecycle—from early prototype development through to production and manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Develop high-quality embedded software that is efficient, maintainable, and scalable
Work collaboratively with hardware engineers to support board bring-up, debugging, and system validation
Design, implement, test, and support embedded software for internally developed electric systems
Investigate and resolve complex real-time challenges related to timing, performance, and signal integrity
Play an active role in shaping software architecture, coding standards, and future platform direction

About You

Strong programming skills in C and C++
Hands-on experience with embedded communication protocols such as BLE, CAN, I2C, UART, or SPI
Comfortable using version control systems, particularly Git
A proactive problem-solver with a methodical approach to identifying root causes
Demonstrated experience in embedded software development
Familiar with the full software development lifecycle, from requirements through to testing

Desirable Skills

Experience with functional safety standards (ISO 13849 or ISO 26262)
Experience working with CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Jenkins, Docker)
Experience developing RTOS-based applications
Familiarity with Python for tooling or automation

Additional Requirements

Full right to work in the UK without sponsorship

Apply today with an up-to-date CV or contact KO2 Embedded Recruitment for more details.

Edge AI Engineer

March 30, 2026/in South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

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.

Firmware & Electronic Test Engineer

March 26, 2026/in Scotland Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Firmware & Electronics Test Engineer
Location: Edinburgh
Salary: £45,000

About the Company
KO2’s client is a small but rapidly growing technology business based in Edinburgh, specialising in the design and development of innovative electronic devices for the IoT industry. With a strong pipeline of new products and increasing demand, they are expanding their engineering team and looking for a talented Firmware & Electronics Test Engineer to support their next phase of growth.

The Role
This is a hands-on role where you will play a key part in ensuring the reliability, performance, and quality of cutting-edge IoT devices. You’ll work closely with firmware, hardware, and product teams to develop and execute robust test strategies across the full product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and implement test plans for embedded firmware and electronic hardware
Design automated and manual test systems for IoT devices
Perform functional, regression, and system-level testing
Debug and diagnose faults across firmware and hardware interfaces
Collaborate with design engineers to improve testability and product quality
Document test procedures, results, and validation reports
Support continuous integration and automated testing environments

Skills & Experience Required

Experience testing embedded systems (firmware + electronics)
Strong understanding of microcontrollers and embedded C/C++
Familiarity with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analysers, etc.)
Experience with test automation frameworks or scripting (Python or similar)
Strong problem-solving and debugging skills

Desirable Skills

Experience with wireless connected devices
Understanding of hardware design principles

What’s on Offer

Opportunity to join a fast-growing, innovative company
Work on cutting-edge products from concept to production
Collaborative and agile engineering environment
Competitive salary and benefits package
Real scope for career progression as the company scales

Apply now or contact KO2 Recruitment for more information.

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

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

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

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.

Embedded Software Engineer

March 2, 2026/in Yorkshire and the Humber Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Embedded Software Engineer

Location: South Leeds
Salary: Up to £55,000

The Opportunity

An established and innovative engineering business in South Leeds is expanding its team and looking for a talented Embedded Software Engineer to join them. With over 30 years of industry expertise, the company partners with leading organisations across multiple sectors, delivering cutting-edge electronic and embedded solutions that make a genuine real-world impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

Designing and developing embedded systems from the ground up
Writing robust, high-quality C code
Working with RTOS environments
Contributing to architecture and design decisions
Collaborating closely with hardware and leadership teams

Essential Skills & Experience

Strong C programming skills
Experience with RTOS (e.g. FreeRTOS, Zephyr)
Microcontroller development experience (STM32, Microchip PIC, Nordic preferred)
Familiarity with communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, CAN, and DALI
Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline

Desirable Experience

Wireless technologies (BLE, Thread, Zigbee)
Application-level development in C, C++ or Python
Version control (Git)

About You

You’re an experienced Embedded Software Engineer who enjoys working in a smaller team where your contribution truly matters. You take ownership of projects, stay up to date with emerging technologies, and enjoy applying new ideas to practical engineering challenges.

Interested?

To learn more about this opportunity, contact Laurence Powell or Andrew Knight at KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions for a confidential discussion.