Senior Software Engineer - GCS

Job Title‍ ‍Senior Software Engineer - GCS
Location‍ ‍Segensworth, Hampshire
Hours‍ ‍Full time, 40 hours per week
Reporting to‍ ‍Head of Engineering / Autonomy and Control Director
Department ‍ ‍Software / Engineering / Autonomy Systems

About the role

We’re looking for a Senior Software Engineer – GCS to help design and develop user‑facing Ground Control Station (GCS) software that enables operators to remotely monitor and control autonomous vehicles beyond visual line‑of‑sight.

This is a hands‑on software role focused on building robust, intuitive, mission‑critical user interfaces using C++, Qt, QML, and JavaScript. You’ll work closely with operators, autonomy engineers, and hardware teams to ensure complex autonomous operations are presented clearly, safely, and effectively to end‑users.

You’ll be involved across the full lifecycle — from UX experimentation and prototyping through to production‑ready deployment on operational systems.

What you’ll be doing

  • Designing and developing user‑facing GCS software for autonomous vehicle monitoring and control

  • Building and maintaining UI applications using C++, Qt, QML, and JavaScript

  • Working directly with operators to gather requirements, validate usability, and refine the user experience

  • Creating prototypes and storyboards to explore and iterate interface concepts

  • Applying modern UI/UX principles to mission‑critical software

  • Ensuring software robustness through:

    • Unit testing

    • Integration testing

    • User acceptance and end‑to‑end testing

  • Optimising performance and reliability for operational use

  • Collaborating with autonomy, systems, and hardware teams to deliver integrated solutions

  • Writing clean, maintainable, well‑documented code

  • Providing technical guidance and mentoring to junior developers

What we’re looking for

Essential experience

  • Strong experience with C++ and Qt, ideally including QML and JavaScript

  • Solid understanding of UI design principles, particularly for mission‑critical systems

  • Experience defining software requirements and designing scalable architectures

  • Strong grasp of software testing methodologies

  • Proven ability to engage directly with end‑users to gather and refine requirements

  • Ability to work independently and manage complex workloads effectively

  • Clear verbal and written communication skills

Desirable experience

  • Experience with UX and storyboarding tools (e.g. Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD)

  • Background in remote control systems, robotics, or defence‑related industries

  • Knowledge of the maritime environment, nautical charts, or survey software

  • Familiarity with HTML/CSS and WebSockets

  • Experience with cloud‑based systems and containerisation

How you’ll work

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Takes ownership and delivers high‑quality software

  • Communicates clearly and collaborates effectively across disciplines

  • Balances usability, safety, and technical complexity

  • Approaches challenges pragmatically and iteratively

  • Maintains professionalism when working with operators and customers

Why join us?

  • Work on real operational control software for autonomous platforms

  • Shape how operators interact with complex autonomous systems

  • Influence user experience on mission‑critical products

  • Collaborate with experts across autonomy, hardware, and systems engineering

What we provide:

·       25 days holiday per year, plus paid bank holiday

·       Flexi working

·       Private Medical Insurance with optional family cover

·       Pension scheme with a 4% employer contribution, there is no cap on the employee contribution level

·       Life assurance 3x salary

·       Group Income Protection

·       Health Care Cash Plan

·       Cycle to Work Scheme

·       Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing mental health and wellbeing support

·       Professional membership reimbursement (discretionary)

Important to know: Due to the nature of our work many of our roles require a UK nationality and the ability to obtain a security clearance.  Applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment must meet the requirement of right to work in the UK and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to Government security checks.

Kraken Works Limited is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and offers equal opportunities to all.  Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.

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