> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2258682-embedded-c-software-engineer-for-space-exploration](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2258682-embedded-c-software-engineer-for-space-exploration). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Embedded C Software Engineer for Space Exploration - **Company:** Standard 8 - **Location:** Guildford, UK - **Salary:** £70,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Communications Protocols, Software Debugging, Digital Electronics, Embedded C, Embedded Software, Ethernet, FreeRTOS, Hardware Interface Design, Internet Protocol, Python (Programming Language), Real-Time Operating Systems, Reduced Instruction Set Computing, RTLinux, Software Engineering, Software Requirements Analysis, System Programming, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, VxWorks, Scripting, Serial Peripheral Interface, System-level Testing, Bare Metal, Scalable Processor Architecture, Industrial Software, Software Version Control - **Published:** August 26, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/embedded-c-software-engineer-for-space-exploration/57277750 ## About the Role * Strong commercial experience developing embeddedsoftware in C * Good understanding of real-time software development * Experience with RTOS or bare-metal systems such as VxWorks, RT Linux, FreeRTOS or similar * Solid knowledge of low-level software and hardware interaction * Experience working within structured software development processes * Python for scripting, tooling, test automation or diagnostics * Familiarity with interfaces and protocols such as CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet or IP networking * Comfortable with modern version control and collaborative development workflows * Able to work pragmatically in a fast-moving engineering environment Useful background * Digital electronics knowledge * Experience with ARM, SPARC, RISC-V or similar processor architectures * Previous work in aerospace, defence, robotics, automotive, space, industrial systems or another safety or mission-critical domain Skills * C Development * Embedded C/C++ Development ## Description Standard 8 Systems is working with an engineering team building embedded software for spacecraft and low-orbit systems. These are real-time platforms, flying in genuinely hostile conditions, the kind of environment where you think NASA, you think SpaceX and you're in the right territory. This isn't app-layer work wearing an embedded label. You'll write C close to the metal: hardware interfaces, tight timing constraints, comms protocols, real-time behaviour, and the integration problems that only show up once hardware and software meet. When the thing you built is in orbit, there's no patching it next sprint, so the bar is high and nobody's cutting corners. You'll sit inside a multidisciplinary team where software, electronics, systems and mission delivery all overlap. It moves fast, and the standard stays high, because the software has to hold up when it actually counts. The role You'll develop embedded C for mission-critical systems and own it end to end: design it, build it, test it, integrate it, support it once it's flying. The focus is robust, low-level software that talks directly to hardware. Day to day that's reading technical requirements, working out how the system genuinely behaves, writing clean C, debugging the integration problems nobody else wants to touch, all inside a structured engineering process. Day to day * Writing embedded C for real-time and low-level systems * Developing software that interfaces directly with hardware * Working in RTOS and/or bare-metal environments * Contributing to requirements definition, software design and implementation * Debugging timing, interface and integration issues * Working with communication protocols such as CAN, serial and IP networking * Building Python scripts and tools for testing, automation or support * Taking software through review, verification and system-level testing * Working closely with electronics, systems and hardware engineers * Keeping delivery moving without cutting corners on engineering quality ## Related Videos - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [The Gashlycrumb Tinies of AI Networking You Must Know (or Languish!)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2067-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-of-ai-networking-you-must-know-or-languish) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Agile work at CARIAD – Creating a customer web application for controlling the vehicle ](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/200-agile-work-at-cariad-creating-a-customer-web-application-for-controlling-the-vehicle) - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [Great DevEx and Regulatory Compliance - Possible?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1426-great-devex-and-regulatory-compliance-possible) ## Related Articles - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Dev Digest 138 - Are you secure about this?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/486-dev-digest-138-are-you-secure-about-this) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Where to Find Entry-Level Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/397-where-to-find-entry-level-software-engineering-jobs)