Job Title: Senior Embedded Software Engineer 
Location: Reading
Employment Type: Permanent
Working Model: Hybrid (typically 3 days on-site, 2 from home; task-based flexibility available)

A client of ours is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer with strong low-level programming experience to take full ownership of designing and delivering a brand-new Automated Test Equipment (ATE) system. This role centres on developing software that directly interfaces with the hardware inside test equipment, enabling the automated testing of electronic products and diagnosing hardware faults.

This is a hands-on, end-to-end engineering position where you will define the architecture, build the tooling, and shape the test strategy that underpins both product validation and production testing. You’ll work closely with hardware, firmware, and systems teams to create a scalable, robust ATE platform that interacts seamlessly with instrumentation, embedded systems, and manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities
- Architect, design, and implement a new ATE system, covering software, tooling, and test workflows.
- Develop low-level software in C/C++ to communicate with hardware, instrumentation, and embedded interfaces.
- Build automated test software and tooling using Python.
- Create test frameworks, scripts, and infrastructure for validation and production environments.
- Integrate with hardware interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, GPIO, etc.) and measurement equipment.
- Configure and optimise Linux-based systems within the ATE environment.
- Investigate test failures, analyse logs, and support root-cause analysis across hardware and software boundaries.
- Produce documentation, test procedures, and contribute to continuous improvement of test processes.

Required Skills & Experience
- Strong hands-on experience with low-level programming in C/C++ for hardware interaction.
- Solid experience with Python for automation and tooling; C# beneficial.
- Proven background designing or supporting ATE systems, hardware-software test platforms, or embedded test environments.
- Confident working in Linux environments.
- Understanding of hardware communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, or similar.
- Ability to debug issues spanning software, hardware, and system integration.
- Comfortable taking ownership of a new system from concept through to delivery.

Please note: Our client is unable to provide visa sponsorship. We can only consider applicants who already hold full and unrestricted right to work in the UK. This role is not suitable for candidates relying on a post-study work visa.

For more information, please contact Cathy Swain.
T: (phone number removed)
E: (url removed)