Senior Signal Processing Engineer

Company Description

Are you passionate about engineering? Do you want to make a difference?  

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 30 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement and support sustainable transformation. Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Job Description

Join our team to play a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge underwater defence systems that rely on advanced signal processing and mathematical modelling. You’ll help translate theoretical models into high-performance, safety-critical software deployed in real-world maritime environments. This is a hands-on opportunity to work on some of the UK’s most innovative defence software projects, where your C++ expertise and algorithmic thinking will make a direct impact.

Location: Stockport (Manchester)
On-site: Monday – Friday
Seniority: Senior (8+ years’ experience)
Clearance: SC clearable (no caveats)

Key Responsibilities

Develop and integrate complex signal processing models into reliable, high-performance C++ software solutions.
Translate mathematical and algorithmic models into efficient, production-quality code.
Contribute to model-driven engineering, combining both autogenerated and manually written code.
Validate algorithms through MATLAB/Simulink simulation.
Design and maintain robust software architectures using UML modelling tools (e.g. IBM Rhapsody).
Apply best practices in static analysis, clean coding, and version control to ensure maintainable, safety-critical software.
Support continuous improvement across build pipelines, testing, and software assurance activities.

Qualifications

Required Skills

Strong proficiency in C++, with proven experience in complex, real-time or safety-critical environments.
Solid grounding in mathematics and signal processing, with practical implementation experience.
Hands-on knowledge of Linux development, including scripting and system configuration.
Experience with model-driven development and integration of both generated and hand-written code.
Strong understanding of software build pipelines, configuration management (e.g. Git, Jira), and containerisation (e.g. Docker).
Familiarity with software testing, including unit testing, integration, and code validation.
Understanding of software safety compliance, documentation standards, and continuous integration practices.Soft Skills & Collaboration

Excellent teamwork and communication across multi-disciplinary environments.
Strong leadership presence – mentoring peers and influencing technical direction.
Proactive and adaptable mindset, with a commitment to quality and safety-critical delivery.Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or Signal Processing, or a related discipline.
OR a relevant technical military background with equivalent hands-on engineering experience.Desirable Skills

Familiarity with defence domain projects and compliance standards.
Experience with CI/CD, DevOps, or software assurance in secure environments.
Knowledge of cybersecurity concepts, virtualisation, or infrastructure as code.
Exposure to requirements management tools and automated testing frameworks.
Continuous improvement mindset, with an interest in emerging technologies and process innovation.Security Clearance Requirement

UKSV (United Kingdom Security Vetting) clearance is required for this role, with Security Check (SC) as the minimum standard, either already held or with a willingness to undergo the process.
Some roles/projects may require Developed Vetting (DV) clearance; while not mandatory, a willingness to obtain DV clearance would be beneficial.
As part of the onboarding process, candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS); details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website