H Squared Talent Ltd

Pension, Life insurance, Healthcare cashback scheme Office-based, Cheshire, with occasional remote working once established Reporting to the Engineering Manager, working alongside R&D, Electronics, and Production Test If you've spent your career writing embedded control code, this could be for you. You'd be joining a small engineering team that builds control systems for bespoke scientific and lab equipment. No two days look the same: one week it's new product development, the next it's helping Production get a system out the door. The Role Every system is built to order, so no two control systems are quite the same. You'll have a big say in how our next generation of controls is designed, from choosing the architecture through to firmware that's ready for production. You'll: Take the lead on microcontroller-based control for new products Write PC-based software and GUI/HMI applications that sit on top of the control systems Design the hardware and software interlocks that keep our systems safe to run Work with an electronics engineer on motor and pump control Test new products as they develop, and help Production/Test with fault finding and with factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), including visits to customer sites Use Git, and keep good records so any change to the software can be traced back Work in C/C++, Python and C#, and use PID loops. Knowing MISRA C and IEC 61508 will help What you'll need Hands-on experience writing software for microcontrollers and embedded systems Solid working knowledge of electronics, both analogue and digital, and how they interface with control software Experience in a mix of C/C++, Python and C# Experience building user interfaces for control systems or machines A methodical approach to testing, documentation and fault finding, with the ability to explain technical issues clearly in writing Willingness to travel around 10% in the UK and overseas, with a full driving licence and a valid passport

Hybrid role Broad technical exposure across microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, control and communications A supportive, collaborative engineering culture We're recruiting a Senior Embedded Software Engineer (firmware, real-time control and hardware integration) for a growing UK manufacturer of high-precision test instrumentation. Their systems combine precision electronics, mechanical actuation and closed-loop control, and the firmware you write directly affects the accuracy of tests that inform real engineering decisions. Engineering is in a strong growth phase: the team has delivered new products, put solid development processes in place, and now has a full roadmap: refurbishing flagship products, developing next-generation instruments, and expanding into new markets with very different control requirements. You'll help lead a programme of six to eight projects over the next year: reviewing existing firmware and hardware, fixing and hardening what's there, and designing new firmware where platforms need to change. It's a blend of new development and in-depth work on existing code, with ownership from day one. You're proactive and take initiative rather than waiting to be told what to do. You see the bigger picture, find practical solutions, and keep a sense of humour. The team moves quickly, values a fail-fast approach to learning, and is tight-knit, so you'll enjoy working collaboratively. What you'll be doing: Leading and delivering firmware projects from specification through to production, mainly in C and C++ Analysing existing firmware, identifying what needs to change, and making it robust, secure and compliant Writing real-time code for microcontrollers and processors that interface with sensors and actuators Working with electronics engineers to define hardware/firmware interfaces at design stage Contributing to code reviews, documentation and good embedded development practice across the team Helping production and technical support teams diagnose firmware issues on the bench or in the field The Candidate: Embedded Software Engineer / Firmware Engineer The ideal candidate will have the following: Experience with RTOS firmware development in C or C++ for microcontrollers or embedded processors. A track record of leading firmware development, including taking projects from scratch to release, and reworking or fixing existing firmware Hands-on hardware experience: reading schematics, using oscilloscopes and debuggers Familiarity with embedded protocols Clear communication, including explaining technical decisions to colleagues outside firmware