Senior Software Engineer | Python & C++ | Belfast
- Senior Software Engineer (5+ years) working in Python and C++
- Embedded, robotics and AI-driven systems, from Raspberry Pi to simulation and autonomy
- An AI-first engineering team… AI coding tools are the primary way the team builds
- Belfast based
- Shape the architecture of a newly funded defence technology start-up with a live MVP
About the Company
Our client is a newly funded UK defence technology start-up building AI-driven command and control software that protects against autonomous threats, primarily drones. The founding team brings more than 20 years of experience delivering mission systems for the intelligence and special operations communities. Their platform is software-first and hardware-agnostic… it reasons above the hardware layer, so customers can deploy best-of-breed equipment at a fraction of the cost of traditional defence systems. With a live MVP and first customers expected by early 2027, they are now building their engineering base in Belfast.
The Role
You will join a small, highly experienced team as a senior developer, shaping software architecture across the stack from embedded control on edge devices through to simulation, visualisation and intelligent decision-making. Working closely with hardware and robotics specialists, you will take intelligent systems from prototype to deployable product. This is a development-first role… the focus is on designing and writing excellent software, with infrastructure and DevOps coming later as the team scales. The team has fully adopted AI coding tools as its primary way of working, and you will bring the same mindset. It suits someone who loves robotics, autonomy and drones and wants real ownership at an early stage.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, build and maintain robust software systems in Python and C++
- Define software architecture across the stack, from embedded and edge devices to application logic
- Use AI coding tools as your primary development workflow and help the team push AI-first engineering further
- Develop and deploy software for Raspberry Pi and other single-board computing platforms
- Design and integrate AI and machine learning components for perception, autonomy and decision-making
- Optimise models for deployment on resource-constrained edge hardware
- Build and integrate simulation and visualisation environments using tools such as Gazebo
- Collaborate with hardware, robotics, data science and QA colleagues to define requirements and system interfaces
- Debug and optimise performance across software and hardware-integrated systems
- Lead by example on clean, well-tested code, code reviews and technical documentation
What You'll Need
Essential
- 5+ years of commercial software development experience with demonstrable seniority
- Strong Python and C++
- A solid grasp of software architecture principles: design patterns, modularity, scalability and maintainability
- Hands-on development for Raspberry Pi or similar embedded and single-board platforms
- Practical experience applying AI and machine learning to real-world problems, using frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow or scikit-learn
- Daily, hands-on use of AI coding tools as a primary part of how you develop
- A development-first background… building product and application code rather than infrastructure or DevOps
- Comfortable in Linux or macOS, with Git and collaborative workflows
- Based in, or willing to relocate to, Northern Ireland
- Must hold or be eligible for UK security clearance
Nice to have
- ROS or ROS 2, Gazebo, ArduPilot or the MAVLink protocol
- Edge AI deployment (quantisation, TensorRT, ONNX, TFLite), computer vision or sensor fusion (IMU, GPS, cameras, LiDAR)
- A background in robotics, unmanned vehicles (UAV, UGV, USV) or real-time systems
Why Apply?
- Join as an early senior hire at a funded start-up with a live product and customers on the horizon
- Work hands-on with cutting-edge robotics, autonomy and AI in a team that has fully embraced AI-first engineering
- Meaningful, mission-driven work protecting critical infrastructure, with room to grow as the team scales through 2027 and 2028
Interested?
To find out more, message Ryan Quinn on LinkedIn or send your CV to ryan@ochopeople.com.
