Simulation Software Engineer

Simulation Software Engineer, Radar and EO/IR Sensors
Based in Bristol   Salary from £53,000 to £60,000 + bonus + overtime | Hybrid, 2 to 4 days on site   Most simulation software sits in a test pipeline and never gets used. Yours will show how a missile seeker sees the world.   This team builds physics-driven scene generation, a simulated view of the world as a radar or electro-optical sensor actually sees it. Those simulations are used to test and certify new weapon systems, and to show how in-service systems will cope with new and emerging threats. Real programmes and real users depend on them.   Before you read on: you must be a British citizen (dual nationals with British citizenship are fine) to be eligible for security clearance. This is a fixed rule and can’t be negotiated.   What you’ll do

• Build simulation software for radar, RF and EO/IR sensors, sometimes from scratch, sometimes making existing product lines faster and better
• Work on 3D rendering and scene generation tools that model how sensors perceive targets, terrain and atmosphere
• Plug your simulations into software-based and hardware-in-the-loop test environments
• Work with programme stakeholders to pin down requirements, risks and technical options
• Spend real time on research, including AI and new modelling techniques, and help decide where the simulation capability goes next

You’ll be in a small software team with plenty of independence. You only need experience in one of radar/RF or EO/IR, and you’ll get the chance to work in both.   What you’ll need   Essential:

• Solid hands-on development experience in Python, or MATLAB and Simulink
• A degree in Physics, Engineering, Maths or similar, or equivalent professional experience
• Good engineering habits: unit and system testing, Git, CI/CD, code that someone else can maintain
• Domain knowledge in at least one of:
  • Radar and RF sensing, e.g. SAR, range-Doppler processing, passive RF, signal and image formation
  • EO/IR sensing and imaging, e.g. modelling optical propagation through the atmosphere, active or passive imaging

Desirable:

• Experience in simulation, sensor modelling or synthetic environments
• 3D rendering or graphics work
• Exposure to laser directed energy (LDEW) or active illumination sensing chains
• Experience in defence or another regulated engineering field

Your experience can come from industry, a PhD or research post, or a serious independent project. What counts is that you can show it.   What’s in it for you

• £53,000 to £60,000 depending on experience
• Bonus up to £2,500
• Pension up to 14% combined
• Up to 15 extra flexi days a year, plus paid overtime
• Subsidised meals, free parking and a healthcare cash plan