Average Software Engineer salary in Essex

Our Client based in Basildon are looking for an experienced Software Development Engineer to join a specialist engineering team delivering secure Windows-based software systems for safety-critical and defence-related applications. This is a Temporary position until April 2026 with the possibility of extension. This role would suit a self-motivated engineer who is comfortable joining a project mid-stream, investigating existing code, and contributing to the next phase of development within a structured software lifecycle.You will receive an initial onboarding period, followed by hybrid working with occasional on-site access to specialist test hardware.Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain Windows applications using C#/.NETContribute to secure communications software, including WCF-based componentsReview, understand, and reverse engineer existing code where documentation may be limitedWork within a formal software development lifecycle (requirements, design, implementation, verification, compliance)Participate in design reviews and technical discussionsCollaborate with other engineers using iterative / Agile-style developmentEnsure software meets quality, safety, and user expectations Essential Skills & Experience Strong professional experience in C# and .NETWorking knowledge of C++ (reading and understanding existing code)Experience with Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)Proven ability to investigate and understand legacy or in-flight codebasesFamiliarity with software development lifecycles, ideally within aerospace, defence, or other regulated environmentsComfortable working to coding standards, processes, and documentation requirementsSelf-driven, proactive, and able to work with minimal supervision Desirable Experience Background in aerospace, defence, or safety-critical systemsWPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) for UI developmentAgile tools such as Jira or Azure DevOpsConfiguration management toolsExposure to embedded or systems-level software Security Requirements Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC)UK national or NATO dual national required Meridian Business Support is a recruitment specialist acting on behalf of our client as an Employment Business for this vacancy.

C++ Software Engineer - Defence sectorInitial 3-month contractBasildon or Southampton (2-3 days onsite per week)£63.70ph, UMB, inside IR35Please note SC level Security Clearance is required for this role, please only apply if you hold live SC or are eligible. Our client, a leader in the Defence & Security sector, is seeking a C++ Software Engineer for an initial 3-month contract to join their team working on a range of cutting-edge defence projects. Key Responsibilities: Developing innovative software solutions and new features for defence applicationsCollaborating with a team of world-class software engineers to continuously improve and innovateWorking on-site in Basildon or Southampton 2-3 days a week, with the possibility of working from home at other timesSupporting the Integrated Sensors & Protection line of businessEngaging in iterative development lifecycles, including Agile methodologiesUsing development tools such as Jira and DevOps to manage projects Job Requirements: Proficient in C++ software developmentUnderstanding of embedded development tools and approachesExperience with Windows and Linux application developmentFamiliar with the development of new applications within formal constraintsExperience using iterative development lifecycles and associated tools (e.g., Jira, DevOps)Understanding of development to design and coding standardsKnowledge of modelling tools such as Rhapsody is an advantageAbility to obtain SC clearance, with the possibility to start on BPSS Benefits: Competitive contract rateOpportunity to work on market-leading defence industry projectsSupportive and collaborative work environmentProfessional development opportunities If you are a talented C++ Software Engineer looking for your next challenge, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's innovative and dynamic team in Basildon or Southampton.

Software Engineer (Kotlin) ?? £65,000 - £80,000 + bonus + excellent Benefits ?? Hybrid - 2 days onsite in Central London (Zone 1) Are you a JVM engineer curious about Kotlin - or already loving it? Want to solve complex problems that contribute to a greener, more sustainable world? �?�? Join a high-calibre engineering team building modern, customer-facing and energy-focused systems in one of the UK's most exciting clean tech companies. You'll join one of their core teams, diving deep into production systems, identifying bottlenecks and driving long-term architectural decisions that support scale, resilience and product growth. What You'll Do Design, build and evolve platform architecture across distributed systems.Analyse production systems to uncover and resolve performance issues.Contribute to backend design using Kotlin (or JVM), supporting a polyglot mindset.Collaborate across engineering to improve practices, tooling, and system design.Bring new ideas to the cross-functional team Tech & Environment Kotlin (JVM), distributed systems, microservices, CI/CDCloud-native platforms (AWS/GCP), modern engineering culture What They're Looking For Some commercial server-side Kotlin development experienceExperience working in an Agile team with modern software development practicesClear communicator who enjoys cross-functional collaboration and technical ownership. Want to work on complex problems with real-world environmental impact? Apply now and help shape the future of clean energy at scale ????