About Plessey
We’re building the hardware foundation for next-era computing.
Plessey is a world-leading technology company driving the next generation of photonic devices and systems. With over 70 years of innovation, we combine research, materials science, process engineering, and manufacturing under one roof. We’re recognised as a global authority in microLED displays, optical computing, and optical interconnects.
Join us to work on breakthrough technologies shaping the future of light-based technology and computing.
Lead
We don’t follow industry trends; we create them, pushing boundaries and setting standards others aspire to. Every team member has the power to make decisions, drive change, and deliver excellence. We support each other, challenge one another for the best solutions, and lead by example. Together, we build industries and technologies that shape the future and scale toward our vision of the next era of computing.
Grow
We expand our capabilities every day — deepening our expertise, improving how we work, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Curiosity fuels us: we question assumptions, explore new ideas, and innovate with light-based technologies. By investing in and empowering our people, we strengthen Plessey’s impact and help shape the future of optical technology.
Trust
We operate like a family—honest, reliable, and supportive. We have each other’s backs, own our actions, and uphold the highest standards of integrity and safety. We trust each other to deliver, our customers to challenge us, and our expertise to guide the way. Together, trust enables the collaboration essential for breakthrough innovation and lasting impact.
Location
Located at our head office and state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Plymouth.
About the Role
We are seeking a senior Embedded Software Engineer to join the Product Development team and contribute to embedded firmware development and hardware–software integration.
This is a hands-on role, working closely with the Principal Engineer and Senior Hardware Engineer to translate system architecture into reliable embedded implementations across prototypes, demos, and product platforms.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++.
- Develop and maintain low-level drivers and application firmware.
- Support bootloader development and firmware update functionality.
- Implement firmware robustness, error handling, and recovery paths.
- Support firmware bring-up on new hardware.
- Debug hardware/firmware issues involving power, clocks, interfaces, and timing.
- Work with schematics, PCBs, and lab equipment during development and debugging.
- Support validation and test readiness of embedded systems.
- Translate architectural intent into working embedded implementations.
- Take ownership of defined subsystems with appropriate guidance.
- Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge transfer.
- Support integration with test environments and higher-level software systems.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Background in Electronic Engineering or similar discipline.
- Experience in embedded software development (C/C++).
- Experience with microcontrollers (e.g. STM32 or similar).
- Experience with bare-metal and/or RTOS-based systems.
- Comfortable reading schematics and understanding hardware design.
- Experience with board bring-up and low-level debugging.
- Experience using SWD/JTAG, logic analysers, and oscilloscopes.
- Understanding of common interfaces (USB, SPI, I²C/I3C, UART).
Advantage
- USB device development experience.
- Familiarity with embedded Linux or Zephyr.
- Experience supporting prototype, demo, or pre-production systems.
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