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Electronic Embedded Engineer

Electronics / Embedded Design Engineer
Newcastle
£40,000 – £45,000 (flexible depending on experience)

KO2’s client is expanding and is now looking to recruit an Electronics / Embedded Design Engineer to help establish a new R&D and design function within the business.

This is a unique opportunity to join at an early stage of a new consultancy-focused team, where you will play a key role in shaping the direction of electronics design and development activities.

The role will involve a combination of hardware and software development. You will be responsible for designing PCB layouts and schematics, as well as developing embedded software for microcontroller-based systems. The position would suit someone who enjoys working across the full product lifecycle and has a solid grounding in both electronics and embedded systems.

You will contribute to the development of new ideas and projects, supporting the growth of a design and consultancy offering alongside the company’s established repair services. This role offers the chance to build something new within an existing and stable business.

The ideal candidate will have experience in PCB design and schematic capture, good knowledge of electronic components and circuit design, and the ability to write embedded software, typically in C, for microcontrollers. A strong understanding of core electronics principles is essential.

KO2’s client is open to candidates who are early in their career but have moved beyond graduate level and can demonstrate practical knowledge and capability.

This is an on-site role in Newcastle and offers the opportunity to grow with a developing R&D function. Salary is flexible depending on experience, with an indicative range of £40,000 to £45,000.

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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

Embedded Software Lead – MedTech

Embedded Software Lead – MedTech
Bristol (3–4 days on-site)
£75,000 + £20,000–£25,000 bonus + excellent benefits

KO2’s client is an innovative and fast-growing technology business developing advanced wearable devices within a medically regulated environment. They are now seeking an Embedded Software Medical Lead to play a critical role in shaping the next generation of their products, although being narrowly focused on highly specialised or niche medical systems.

This is a leadership position within the R&D function, sitting alongside mechanical leadership and taking ownership of embedded software at a system level.

The Opportunity

You’ll act as the system-level lead across embedded software and hardware, driving design, integration, and validation of both current and next-generation wearable products.

This role blends hands-on engineering, technical leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, giving you real influence over product direction without being confined to purely regulatory work.

What You’ll Be Doing

Contribute to early-stage innovation, exploring new technologies in embedded systems and wearable applications
Develop proof-of-concepts and functional prototypes
Identify risks early and shape product direction through informed engineering decisions
Support usability testing and concept validation

Lead system design across software and hardware for new product development
Own design control, risk management, and verification/validation activities
Provide technical oversight and challenge solutions to ensure high-quality delivery
Investigate complex technical issues and support resolution of field challenges
Drive continuous improvements in performance, reliability, and cost
Work closely with quality and cross-functional teams

What KO2’s client is looking for

Strong background in embedded software development (ideally with some hardware exposure)
Experience working on physical products (not purely cloud or desktop systems)
Background in a regulated environment (medical, safety-critical, or similar preferred, but not overly specialised)
Solid understanding of full product lifecycle, from concept through to launch and improvement
Experience with design control, testing, and documentation
Strong communicator with the ability to lead and influence

Technical skills:

Experience in C or C++ (or similar embedded languages)
Understanding of electronics or hardware integration (beneficial, not essential)
Awareness of cybersecurity and safety considerations

This role would suit someone who:

Wants to step into or continue in a technical leadership role
Enjoys working on tangible, real-world products
Prefers broad engineering ownership rather than being siloed
Has some exposure to regulated environments but doesn’t want an overly compliance-heavy role.

Salary and Benefits

£75,000 base salary
On-target bonus of £20,000–£25,000
Strong benefits package
A key leadership role in a growing R&D team
The opportunity to work on cutting-edge wearable technology with real-world impact

If you’re an embedded software engineer ready to lead at a systems level—and want to work on innovative wearable products in a collaborative, fast-moving environment—this could be a great next step.

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

April 10, 2026/in South Permanent /by Chris Oddy

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.

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

Technical Director

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

Technical Director

EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS PACKAGE

£75,000 – £95,000 base salary (depending on skills & experience)
Performance-related bonus up to 15%
Contributory pension scheme with up to 11% company contribution
Family private healthcare cover
Death in service benefit – 5x annual salary

High-Tech | Fast-Moving | Innovation-Led

KO2’s client is a high-technology, fast-evolving engineering business based in Glasgow. They design and develop highly innovative products for some of the biggest business names in the world.

While many organisations are slowing down, restructuring or reducing headcount, KO2’s client is growing. They operate in a space where deep technical capability is in high demand, and they continue to attract top-tier engineering talent in an increasingly competitive Scottish market.

This is not a slow, corporate, process-heavy environment. This is a business built on pace, innovation and delivery.

The Opportunity – A Truly Varied Technical Leadership Role

This is not a narrow Technical Director position.

This is a broad, influential, hands-on leadership role requiring someone who can move effortlessly between:

Strategic technical direction
Product innovation
Engineering execution
Team development
Commercial awareness
Customer engagement

You will shape technical architecture, influence product direction and guide multidisciplinary engineering teams — while ensuring innovation turns into real-world delivery.

The role demands an innovator and inventor at heart — someone who enjoys solving complex problems and pushing technical boundaries. But equally important is the softer side of leadership.

KO2’s client is looking for a Technical Director who:

Brings people with them
Coaches and develops talent
Encourages initiative
Builds alignment and energy
Leads through influence, not hierarchy

This is about building capability as well as technology.

Culture – Built for Self-Starters

KO2’s client values:

Initiative
Ownership
Energy
Real communication skills
Accountability

They are quick-moving and high-expectation. They look for people who act, not wait. People who pick up the phone. People who engage. People who show drive.

If you prefer heavy structure, long approval chains and a steady, predictable pace — this won’t be the right environment.

If you thrive in ambiguity, enjoy responsibility and want genuine influence — this is a rare opportunity.

Who You Are

You are likely:

Technically exceptional
Comfortable leading senior engineers
Commercially aware
Energised by innovation
Confident making decisions
Passionate about developing others

You understand that technical excellence alone is not enough — sustainable success comes from building strong, capable, motivated teams.

Presence, collaboration and pace matter to KO2’s client, and this is a role for someone who wants to be embedded in the business and make visible impact.

EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS PACKAGE

£75,000 – £95,000 base salary (depending on skills & experience)
Up to 15% performance bonus
Up to 11% employer pension contribution
Family private medical cover
Death in service – 5x annual salary

If you are an innovative Technical Director who combines invention with inspiration, and you want to join a Glasgow-based technology company that is accelerating while others hesitate, KO2’s client would welcome a conversation.

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.

Embedded System Engineer

February 3, 2026/in North East Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Role: Embedded Systems Engineer

Location: Newcastle

Salary: Up to £55,000 + Benefits

KO2 are exciting be working with a industry leading business in Newcastle who are growing their engineering team and seeking 2 embedded systems engineers to join them. These roles are down to business growth and there is an exciting roadmap of new projects planned for 2026 and beyond.

The successful embedded engineers will be joining a multidiscipline engineering team and be expected to contribute across the full software development cycle whilst working closely with electronics, mechanical and test engineers.

Your core skill set will include solid industry experience with most of the below:

C programming
User of the FreeRTOS or similar.
Good knowledge of GitLab and GitLab flow.
Experience of programming microprocessors – Ideally Texas Instruments
Knowledge of the communication protocols, like Modbus, TCP/IP, CAN, UART and SPI.

Whilst any experience of the below is desirable:

Experience in designing and debugging of electronic circuits using schematics capture tools and oscilloscope
Understanding of the system control principles, software implementation of the PI regulators, use of PWM, dead time generation.
Working with low voltage systems, up to 1000 Vac or 1500 Vdc.

If you are an experienced embedded engineer in the Newcastle area or willing to move to the area apply today with an up-to-date CV and a member of the KO2 teams will be in touch to progress your application.

Compliance Manager

January 27, 2026/in North West Permanent /by Chris Oddy

Role: Compliance Manager
Location: Wigan (5 days onsite)
Salary: £45,000 – £60,000 + Private Healthcare

KO2 is working with one of its clients, a global engineering business that designs and develops access control systems used in the retail banking sector, alongside high-security safes and vaults for private banks throughout the world.

Due to the upcoming retirement of the current Compliance Manager, the business is seeking an experienced individual to take ownership of product compliance and verification activities across its product range. A full handover will be provided, and the company is committed to training and developing the successful candidate as part of a long-term succession plan.

This is a key role within the organisation, managing the verification function and ensuring products meet regulatory requirements and third-party certification standards.

Role Overview
As Compliance Manager, you will lead the verification and approvals function, ensuring all new and existing products meet relevant standards and certifications. The role involves extensive third-party testing, ongoing certification renewals, and close collaboration with R&D and external test houses.

This position would suit an established Compliance Manager or a technically strong individual from an electronics or embedded systems background looking to step into management.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a team of verification technicians and engineers (5 direct reports)
Plan and prioritise verification activities, including in-house EMC testing
Own product approval and re-approval processes
Define and manage third-party testing and certification strategies
Maintain certifications, approvals, and technical documentation
Review test reports and resolve technical queries and non-conformances
Liaise with external test houses and certification bodies
Monitor regulatory requirements across all regions of operation
Communicate compliance and approval status to senior management
Maintain Declarations of Conformity, Declarations of Performance, and Technical Construction Files
Ensure internal test facilities are calibrated and fit for purpose
Work in line with ISO9001 Quality Management Systems

The Environment
You will work closely with a well-established Research & Development team of over 30 engineers, based in a purpose-built facility in Lancashire, focused on developing new and improved electronic products.

Skills & Experience

Experience in a compliance, verification, or approvals role
Strong knowledge of standards such as BS EN 54, EN 50131, EMC, LVD, RED, ROHS and REACH
Experience working with third-party test houses and certification bodies
Background in electronics or embedded systems preferred
Strong organisational, communication, and people management skills

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent in an engineering discipline
Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar role
Management experience preferred, or readiness to step into management
Legal right to work in the UK

What’s on Offer

Salary £45,000 – £60,000
Permanent role based in Wigan
Full handover and structured training
Private healthcare
Long-term career development within a growing engineering business

Apply today for immediate consideration.