Senior Software Engineer – Linux

Bold ideas start with bold people. At Ensera Design, we are a world‑class, user‑centered innovation and product development consultancy working across medical and consumer health. Join our multidisciplinary team to build robust, secure firmware that powers life‑enhancing products.

We are currently seeking an experienced embedded Senior Software Engineer to join our talented team and contribute to delivering exceptional solutions for our clients.

About the role

You’ll be joining a multidisciplinary collaborative team developing a greenfield medical device in its earliest stages. As a Senior Software Engineer your primary focus will be to design, implement and develop embedded software using C/C++ on embedded Linux platforms. Because the project is still in its early stages you’ll play a vital role in shaping the architecture and design as well as influencing key technical decisions. You’ll be expected to work closely with hardware, MCU, UI and connectivity teams to ensure continuity throughout the project.

About you

You’re an engineer who has worked across safety-critical systems and/or medical devices in the past with a desire to develop within an embedded Linux environment. You’ll be a strong communicator with a desire to share knowledge and mentor more junior members of the team. You’ll be interested in working on safety-critical applications across the full development lifecycle and in accordance with safety and reliability standards such as IEC62304.

What you’ll do

• Design and implement embedded Linux software in line with agreed system and security architecture

• Own the architecture and implementation of assigned Linux subsystems and services

• Lead Linux platform bring-up and configuration within scope

• Maintain and contribute to the embedded build system (e.g. Yocto or equivalent)

• Define and maintain interfaces between Linux, MCU firmware, UI, and connectivity components

• Make design decisions within scope and escalate architectural impacts as required

• Support debugging of system-level faults and performance issues

• Provide technical guidance and review for Linux engineers

Your skills and experience

Whilst you do not need to meet all of these points, please ensure you meet the majority of them before making an application:

Essential:

• Strong experience developing software on embedded Linux platforms

• Solid understanding of Linux internals, IPC, filesystems, and networking

• Experience with embedded build systems (Yocto, Buildroot, or similar)

• Strong C/C++ experience; scripting experience is beneficial

• Experience working in structured, quality-focused development environments

Desirable:

• Experience with Qt or other embedded UI frameworks

• Experience integrating Linux systems with MCUs over UART, SPI, or CAN

• Secure boot, system update, or platform hardening experience

• Experience with communication protocols (UART, SPI, I²C, CAN)

• Experience working in regulated or safety-critical domains

For this role we are considering a salary of up to £73,954. As part of your application, we will ask you to state your desired salary. If you would like to discuss your salary expectations in more detail, then please reach out.

Why work with us?

Ensera Design offers interesting and varied work combined with a supportive team culture to provide a stimulating environment where you will have the opportunity to develop and learn from others. We offer flexible working policies where working patterns are agreed with our line managers, taking into account the role, needs of the individual, and the team.

We recognise that we are only as good as our people and we know how important it is to support our team.

We offer:

• Performance-related company-wide bonus.

• Flexible hybrid working in line with our core hours (Mon–Thu, 9:30am–12:00pm & 2:00pm–4:00pm; Fri, 9:30am–12:00pm).

• Private healthcare for you and your family.

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.

• Salary exchange pension scheme.

• 25 days of annual leave, plus the option to purchase up to one working week and additional days for length of service.

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and digital wellbeing platform.

• Cycle to Work & Electric Vehicle Lease schemes.

• Death in service (x4 gross salary).

• Training and development opportunities, including dedicated learning days and regular knowledge-sharing sessions.

• A free lunch the first Monday of every month alongside our company-wide meeting.

• Free breakfast every Wednesday, and plenty of opportunities to socialise, including team-organized activities, summer and Christmas parties, and more.

About us

We are based in an iconic Grade II listed building in the heart of Bristol. Our vibrant workspace houses state-of-the-art labs, a design studio, usability suites, and collaborative meeting spaces. Nestled in a lively neighbourhood with independent shops, we’re just a short walk from Park Street, the Harbourside, and St. Nick’s Markets.

We are proud of our values:

• Find a way: We work as one team, combining our knowledge and experience to unite around a shared goal. We trust each other and do what’s needed to get things done and exceed expectations.

• Pull together: We believe anything is possible. When faced with challenges we take the initiative, using our creative spirit and determination to find bold solutions and deliver results that move us forward.

• Care: We act with integrity, take pride in our work, and support each other. We each play our part to make a positive impact for our customers, our colleagues, and our planet.

Our diverse, multidisciplinary team spans research, design, human factors, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, and beyond. Together, we deliver cutting-edge solutions for clients ranging from global leaders to innovative start-ups, with a particular focus on medical devices, drug delivery, orthopaedics, and diagnostics.

Do we sound like a good match for you?

If you’d like to discuss the role or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need to make your application, we’d love to hear from you. If you think you might be the right person for us but want an informal chat first then get in touch via [email protected].

Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy if we have a high level of applications. We look forward to hearing from you!

At Ensera Design we believe that designing for people means including all people, starting with the team behind the work. Our human-centred design ethos is rooted in empathy, and our values – pull together, find a way, and care – guide us in building a team that reflects the diversity of the world we design for.

We know that different perspectives lead to better ideas, stronger collaboration, and more meaningful outcomes. If you meet the skills and experience for this role, we welcome your application – whatever your background, identity, or path into design. What matters to us is that you share our belief in purposeful, people-first design.

Polite notice for agencies – We appreciate the interest from recruitment partners; however, we are managing this hiring process directly and ask that agencies do not contact us regarding this role. Unsolicited CVs will be considered as a gift to Ensera Design.