Software Engineer - SC Cleared

Cyber Software Engineer Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum Location: Manchester Employment type: Permanent Clearance: Active SC, MOD DV or eDV clearance, or eligibility to hold The opportunity We are looking for a Cyber Software Engineer to join a highly technical engineering team delivering high-assurance cyber capabilities across UK defence and national security environments.

This role offers the opportunity to work on operational technology (OT) cyber projects involving real systems and real users. You will develop secure, robust software in environments where reliability, performance and assurance genuinely matter.

We are particularly interested in engineers with strong Python development experience, alongside knowledge of C++ and secure software engineering. What you will be doing You will contribute to the design, development and assurance of security-critical software used in demanding operational environments.

Your responsibilities will include

Developing secure, high-assurance software, primarily using Python

Contributing to software development using C++ where required

Working on operational technology (OT) cyber programmes

Contributing to secure system architecture, design, implementation and verification

Collaborating with cyber engineers, systems engineers and operational users

Supporting software throughout its full lifecycle within classified environments

What we are looking for We are looking for a software engineer with strong commercial Python experience and an interest in cyber security, secure development or other high-assurance environments.

Essential experience

Strong commercial Python software engineering experience

Experience in secure, high-assurance, defence, cyber, safety-critical or similar environments

A good understanding of secure coding practices and software design principles

Confidence working on-site within classified environments

Active SC, DV or eDV clearance, or eligibility to hold the required clearance

Desirable experience

Commercial experience with C++

Experience with Golang and/or Rust

Cyber security qualifications, such as CEH, OSCP or similar

Vulnerability research and/or reverse engineering experience

Exposure to OT environments, embedded systems or low-level development

Experience working with MOD or national security customers

Why join? You will work on genuinely operational cyber projects with real-world impact, alongside highly technical specialists in a high-trust engineering environment.

The role offers

Meaningful work supporting UK defence and national security

Long-term programmes providing stability, purpose and career development

Exposure to technically challenging, security-critical projects

Collaboration with cyber specialists, systems engineers and operational users

A London-based hybrid working arrangement with a strong on-site engineering culture

If you are an experienced Python engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and wants to apply your skills to high-assurance cyber capabilities, we would be keen to hear from you.

Please note that the original role description specifies C++ as an essential skill. This version has intentionally repositioned Python as the primary language and C++ as secondary, in line with your updated requirement.