R&D Software Engineer

Our client, a leading technology company in the Defence & Security sector, is currently seeking a talented Research & Development Software Engineer to join their innovative team on a permanent basis. This role is based at Portsdown Technology Park in Portsmouth and offers the exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge immersive training solutions and simulations.

All potential applicants are encouraged to scroll through and read the complete job description before applying.

Key Responsibilities:

Build and maintain prototypes, proof-of-concept systems, and technical demonstrators
Take early-stage feasibility prototypes forward into working implementations, validating technical assumptions and documenting findings
Implement integrations between AI services, APIs, backend systems, XR applications, simulation environments, and third-party platforms
Develop microservices, wrappers, connectors, and service interfaces to support solution components
Support applied AI development including LLM services, speech services, classification models, RAG pipelines, and AI-enabled application features
Prepare and maintain demo-ready technical builds for internal and customer-facing demonstrations
Support the preparation of technical handoff to delivery teams, including setup guides, implementation notes, configuration instructions, and known-issue logs
Test and validate solution components against defined requirements or acceptance criteria, recording issues, limitations, and dependencies clearly

Job Requirements:

Degree in software engineering, computer science, AI, games technology, simulation or a related technical discipline
Practical software development experience in Python, C++, or C#
Ability to build, test, and debug software, integrations, and small services independently
Understanding of APIs, data formats, and basic system integration concepts
Willingness to work across different technical areas including AI, XR, backend services, tooling, and prototyping
Strong problem-solving ability and enthusiasm for learning in a fast-paced R&D environment
Excellent communication skills to articulate technical issues and blockers clearly

Desirable Skills:

Experience with AI/ML tools, LLMs, speech services, RAG systems, or AI APIs
Experience with Unreal Engine, Unity, or other real-time 3D development environments
Familiarity with Docker, FastAPI, REST APIs, Git, and deployment workflows
Experience with simulation, defence, XR, training systems, or serious games
Familiarity with cloud services or local/offline model deployment
Experience preparing demos, xwzovoh prototypes, or proof-of-concept systems for technical or customer audiences

Benefits:

Competitive salary
Family medical and dental cover
25 days annual leave, birthday day off + bank holidays
Additional 5 days annual leave after 1 year of employment
5 additional reservist volunteering days on full pay
2 volunteering days on full pay
Pension NEST 7%
Cycle to work scheme
EV scheme
Career development opportunities and progression pathways
Employee assistance package
Flexible working
Company annual socials and wellbeing initiatives

If you are an experienced Software Engineer eager to contribute to transformative digital immersive training solutions within the Defence & Security sector, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's dynamic and supportive team in Portsmouth.