If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.
Senior AI-Assisted Software Engineer
Closing date: 8th October 2026
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.
Package: £47,270 - £82,000 p.a (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non-working day. For this role, employees are required to work mostly onsite. We support flexible working arrangements where possible, including part-time and varied working hours, while maintaining an onsite presence. Please let us know if you would like us to consider an alternative working pattern as part of your application.
Ready to play your part?
At AWE, it’s not just a job, it’s far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?
As a Senior AI‑Assisted Software Engineer, you will take technical ownership of delivering secure, high‑quality software solutions using advanced AI‑enabled development techniques. Working within AWE’s AI Capability Development team, you’ll translate business requirements into robust applications, accelerate coding and testing through AI tools, and shape solution designs alongside the AI Platform Specialist and other engineers.
By combining strong engineering fundamentals with modern AI‑driven practices, you’ll help AWE deliver new capabilities at pace while supporting the AI Factory mission and mentoring junior developers in AI‑assisted development.
Key Accountabilities
- Accountable for delivering robust software solutions that meet requirements and user needs, from design through release. Ensures projects are completed on schedule and to a high standard, using AI-assisted tools to speed up delivery without sacrificing quality.
- Accountable for the technical soundness and quality of software outputs. This means enforcing best practices in coding, testing, and documentation, and embedding automated quality checks (e.g. code analysis, security scanning, test coverage) in pipelines. Ensures delivered software is secure, scalable, and aligned with AWE’s architecture and compliance standards.
- Help improve AWE’s development capability by piloting and integrating new AI-assisted engineering tools and methodologies. Working with the team and the AI Capability Development lead, keep the team at the forefront of software engineering trends – trialling new code-generation tools, testing frameworks, or coding patterns – to increase productivity and future-proof AWE’s internal engineering.
- Act as a mentor and technical coach to junior developers, guiding them in code craftsmanship, problem solving, and effective use of AI development tools. Accountable for raising the team’s skill level and confidence with AI-augmented workflows, fostering continuous learning and improvement.
- Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders (AI Adoption teams, data engineers, and IT infrastructure) to ensure software is well integrated into the broader AI ecosystem and existing systems. Liaise with these groups to align on requirements, ensure compatibility with enterprise architecture, and guarantee smooth deployment and handover into operational use.
- Ensure all development activities and outputs align with AWE’s safety, security, and Responsible AI guidelines. This includes upholding data protection and ethical AI use in any code or models and swiftly addressing risk or compliance issues. Foster a development environment where governance is an enabler, baked into everyday practices (e.g. approved libraries, documenting model usage).
- Drive a results-oriented approach, ensuring delivered software demonstrably contributes to efficiency, automation, or other mission goals. Accountable for meeting or exceeding performance benchmarks – e.g. improvements in development cycle times, system performance, or user satisfaction – through effective use of AI-enabled methods.
Who are we looking for?
We do need you to have the following:
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field. An equivalent combination of education and substantial professional software development experience will be considered.
- Proven experience in software engineering, typically in the range of 3–5+ years.
- Track record of using modern development practices and tools
- Strong software development skills
Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we’d like you to have experience in some of the following:
- Experience acting in a technical lead or senior developer role on a project or product team.
- Industry context experience in a highly regulated or secure sector (defence, aerospace, government, etc.).
- Cutting-edge AI/ML knowledge.
- Cloud & architecture certifications: Formal certifications such as Microsoft Azure Developer or AWS Certified Developer, or training in software architecture, indicating a solid grounding in designing scalable, cloud-based solutions.
- Project management or Agile certifications (Scrum Master, PRINCE2 Agile, etc.), suggesting the ability to blend technical and organizational skills to coordinate complex development efforts.
Work hard, be rewarded:
We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:
- 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
- Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
- Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
- Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
- Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
- Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
- Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.
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Next steps:
Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.
Important things you need to know:
- We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
- You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
- We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
- Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
