Defence jobs for software engineers in the United Kingdom

137 open roles for software engineers at 36 defence and security companies in the United Kingdom. 56 of them are open to candidates of any nationality; the rest ask for citizenship or a government security check. 19 mention relocation support.

Rebuilt 23 Oct 2026
open technical roles
137
companies
36
open to any nationality
41%
median stated pay
$72k

Companies hiring

CompanyOpen rolesAny nationalityRelocation
Leonardo310%
Northrop Grumman130%12
Palantir Technologies12100%
MBDA UK10100%1
RTX989%
BAE Systems520%
L3Harris Technologies540%
Saab50%
Rolls-Royce4100%
ARONDITE30%2
Shield AI3100%
Ultra PCS30%
Ultra I&C30%
QinetiQ30%
Leidos250%

Newest roles

Leidos

leidos.com
leidos.com • HQ: Reston, United States • C4ISR • National Security • Engineering Services • Defense Manufacturing • Systems Integrators • 5000+ employees • Est. 2013 • IT services • Trust B • Hiring 1548, 70 new
HQ: Reston, United States • C4ISR • National Security • Engineering Services • Defense Manufacturing • Systems Integrators • 5000+ employees • Est. 2013 • IT services • Trust B • Hiring 1548, 70 new
Leidos is an American technology and engineering services company created in 2013 when Science Applications International Corporation split in two, with Leidos taking the technical services and solutions business. It is one of the largest suppliers to the United States government, working across defence programmes, intelligence systems, civil agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, and healthcare services for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, the company also builds security detection products for airports and borders, and has concentrated recent investment on trusted artificial intelligence and autonomy for mission environments.
Chris Cage · Chief Financial Officer · decision-maker
Thomas Bell · Chairman & Chief Executive Officer · decision-maker
Roger Krone · former Chief Executive Officer
Careers mailbox is known
Verified live · 2 days ago 4 days ago Hiring now · 70%

Software Engineer

≈ $63k – $155k per year (Estimated) • Hybrid (Whiteley, United Kingdom) • Full-Time
C++
Java
Python
Java
Apache Camel
Databases
NATS
Apache Kafka
AI/ML
Machine Learning
DevOps
Git
Puppet
Docker
Linux
AWS
Management
Scrum
Agile
Confluence
Jira
+8
Apply
Open 169 daysVerified live · 2 days ago 5 months ago Long shot · 9%

Lead Software Engineer

$82k – $105k per year • Lead • In office (Chester, United Kingdom) • PhD • Full-Time • Citizenship or vetting required • Staff
Java
SQL
Perl
C++
Python
AI/ML
Machine Learning
DevOps
Bamboo
Bitbucket
CI/CD
Unix
SOAP
Rest API
Linux
Management
Jira
Scrum
Agile
+8
Apply

Palantir Technologies

palantir.com
palantir.com • HQ: Denver, United States • Defense AI • Data Integration & ETL Tools • Decision Intelligence • 1001-5000 employees • Est. 2003 • NASDAQ: PLTR • Trust C • Hiring 235, 7 new
HQ: Denver, United States • Defense AI • Data Integration & ETL Tools • Decision Intelligence • 1001-5000 employees • Est. 2003 • NASDAQ: PLTR • Trust C • Hiring 235, 7 new
Palantir Technologies is an American software company founded in 2003 that builds platforms for integrating, analysing and acting on large and fragmented datasets. Its Gotham platform serves defence, intelligence and law enforcement customers, Foundry brings the same data-operating model to commercial industries such as manufacturing, healthcare and energy, and the Artificial Intelligence Platform layers large language models over both. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado and listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2020, the company is known for deploying forward engineers directly inside customer organisations.
Stephen Cohen · Co-Founder & President · decision-maker
Peter Thiel · Co-Founder & Chairman · decision-maker
Alex Karp · Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer · decision-maker
Alexander Karp · Executive Officer, Director · decision-maker
No careers mailbox known
Verified live · 3 hours ago Visa sponsor 4 days ago Likely open · 63%

Software Engineer, Internship - Query Engines

Intern • In office (London, United Kingdom) • Bachelor's Degree • Internship • Intern
Rust
Scala
C++
Java
Python
Java
Gradle
Databases
Apache Iceberg
AI/ML
Spark
DevOps
GitHub
+1
Apply
Verified live · 3 hours ago Visa sponsor 4 days ago Likely open · 63%

Software Engineer, New Grad - Query Engines

≈ $59k – $135k per year (Estimated) • Junior • Hybrid (London, United Kingdom) • Bachelor's Degree • Full-Time • Junior
Rust
Scala
C++
Java
Python
Java
Gradle
Databases
Apache Iceberg
AI/ML
Spark
DevOps
GitHub
+1
Apply

Northrop Grumman

northropgrumman.com
northropgrumman.com • HQ: Falls Church, United States • Space Defense • C4ISR • Satellite Manufacturing • Aerospace Manufacturing • Defense Manufacturing • 5000+ employees • Est. 1994 • Trust A • Hiring 3534, 288 new
HQ: Falls Church, United States • Space Defense • C4ISR • Satellite Manufacturing • Aerospace Manufacturing • Defense Manufacturing • 5000+ employees • Est. 1994 • Trust A • Hiring 3534, 288 new
Northrop Grumman is an American defence contractor whose oldest predecessor was founded in 1939, and which took its present form through the 1994 combination of Northrop and Grumman. It builds strategic systems including the B-21 Raider bomber and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programme, military and civil space systems, radars and electronic warfare equipment, autonomous aircraft, and mission systems and software for the United States armed forces and allied governments. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, it earns the large majority of its revenue from the American government and employs close to one hundred thousand people.
Kenneth Crews · Chief Financial Officer · decision-maker
Kathy Warden · Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President · decision-maker
Jack Northrop · Founder · founder
No careers mailbox known
Verified live · 4 hours ago 4 days ago Likely open · 61%

Software Engineer

$48k – $71k per year • Hybrid (Cheltenham, United Kingdom) • Relocation • Full-Time • Citizenship or vetting required
TypeScript
JavaScript
SQL
Python
Java
Java
Spring Boot
Databases
ElasticSearch
Frontend
React.js
DevOps
Docker
Kubernetes
AWS
Management
Agile
+4
Apply
Verified live · 4 hours ago 9 days ago Likely open · 47%

AI Product Engineer

$67k – $94k per year • In office (Cheltenham, United Kingdom) • Relocation • Full-Time • Citizenship or vetting required
Agentic Workflows
RAG
Machine Learning
DevOps
CI/CD
Apply

BAE Systems

baesystems.com
baesystems.com • HQ: London, United Kingdom • Naval Systems • Combat Aircraft • Defense Manufacturing • 1001-5000 employees • Est. 1999 • Trust B • Hiring 281, 70 new
HQ: London, United Kingdom • Naval Systems • Combat Aircraft • Defense Manufacturing • 1001-5000 employees • Est. 1999 • Trust B • Hiring 281, 70 new
BAE Systems is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, building combat aircraft, warships, submarines, land vehicles, electronic systems and cyber and intelligence products. Formed in 1999 from the merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems, it is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has major operations in the UK, the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and works on the Edgewing combat air programme. It hires hardware, software, structures, flight systems and spacecraft engineers, test and manufacturing specialists, project managers, supply chain and procurement staff, and graduates.
No named decision-maker yet.
No careers mailbox known
Verified live · 2 hours ago Visa sponsor 4 days ago Likely open · 62%

NSL- Software Engineer

≈ $56k – $137k per year (Estimated) • Hybrid (Leeds, United Kingdom)
Apply

Leonardo

leonardo.com
leonardo.com • HQ: Rome, Italy • C4ISR • Aircraft Manufacturing • Defense Manufacturing • 5000+ employees • Est. 1948 • Trust B • Hiring 665, 102 new
HQ: Rome, Italy • C4ISR • Aircraft Manufacturing • Defense Manufacturing • 5000+ employees • Est. 1948 • Trust B • Hiring 665, 102 new
Leonardo is an Italian aerospace, defence and security group headquartered in Rome that builds helicopters, aircraft, aerostructures, defence electronics, space systems and cyber security solutions. Founded in 1948 as Finmeccanica and renamed in 2017, it is listed in Milan with the Italian state as its largest shareholder, employs more than 50,000 people and has major industrial operations in Italy, the UK, Poland and the US. Its openings span cyber security engineers, systems, software and quality engineers, ground station and test engineers, project managers and customer service officers at sites such as Rome, Edinburgh, Luton, Southampton and Turin.
No named decision-maker yet.
Careers mailbox is known
Verified live · 2 days ago Visa sponsor 5 days ago Likely open · 67%

Industrial Placement Software Engineer

≈ $62k – $152k per year (Estimated) • Hybrid (Luton, United Kingdom) • Full-Time • Citizenship or vetting required
Apply
Verified live · 2 days ago Visa sponsor 5 days ago Likely open · 68%

Graduate Software Engineer

$45k per year • Equity • Junior • Hybrid (Luton, United Kingdom) • Bachelor's Degree • Full-Time • Citizenship or vetting required • Junior
Apply

Rolls-Royce

rolls-royce.com
rolls-royce.com • HQ: London, United Kingdom • Industrial Machinery • Defense Manufacturing • Aerospace Manufacturing • 5000+ employees • Est. 1906 • Trust B • Hiring 419, 52 new
HQ: London, United Kingdom • Industrial Machinery • Defense Manufacturing • Aerospace Manufacturing • 5000+ employees • Est. 1906 • Trust B • Hiring 419, 52 new
Rolls-Royce is a British engineering group headquartered in London, England, that designs, builds and services power and propulsion systems for civil aerospace, defence and power systems markets. Founded in 1906, it runs major sites in Derby, Bristol, Indianapolis and Singapore, while its Rolls-Royce Power Systems unit in Friedrichshafen produces mtu engines, generators and battery storage systems. It hires manufacturing, systems and reliability engineers, field service representatives, service technicians, procurement and supply chain managers, programme managers, finance and legal staff and OT cyber analysts.
No named decision-maker yet.
Careers mailbox is known
Verified live · 2 days ago 9 days ago Likely open · 47%

Software/ Hardware Integration Engineer - Submarines

≈ $65k – $161k per year (Estimated) • In office (Derby, United Kingdom) • Full-Time
IBM DOORS
MedTech
Verification & Validation
Apply
Verified live · 2 days ago 11 days ago Fading · 43%

Principal Software Engineer

≈ $96k – $195k per year (Estimated) • Lead • In office (Heybridge, United Kingdom) • Full-Time • Principal
C++
Apply

Skills these roles ask for

C++ 71Python 50CI/CD 34Agile 32Linux 28Java 24JavaScript 21C# 21UML 17Rust 16TypeScript 16Docker 16Kubernetes 15React.js 14Git 13ElasticSearch 12

Where the roles are

London 29Edinburgh 15Bristol 13Luton 8Basildon 8Cheltenham 8Maidenhead 6Fareham 6Manchester 5Southampton 5

Questions

Can a foreigner apply for these roles?

56 of the 137 roles here state no citizenship or security-check demand. A role that does - a citizenship, a national security vetting, a US clearance - says so in its advert, and the card marks it.

Which companies hire most?

Leonardo (31), Northrop Grumman (13), Palantir Technologies (12), MBDA UK (10), RTX (9).

Which employers count as defence companies?

Companies whose main business is defence and security - prime contractors, defence electronics, naval, land and air systems, defence software and the defence tech startups - and the defence divisions of diversified groups. Companies of Russia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Iran and North Korea and companies under sanctions are left out.

How fresh is this?

Every role is re-checked on the employer's own careers board at least every 48 hours, and the page is rebuilt every night.

Source: 137 live postings on employers' careers boardsUpdated 23 Oct 2026MethodologyJSONCC BY-SA 4.0