Junior Software Engineer at a fast growing startup

Hybrid; Plymouth and WFH

No recruiters. Previous candidates need not apply

Overview

Founded in 2020, ACUA Ocean is a fast-growing and dynamic start-up at the intersection of ocean autonomy and maritime security. Our intelligent and scalable uncrewed surface vessel (USV) platform supports applications including environmental monitoring, offshore infrastructure resilience, coastal protection, and marine surveillance — all with minimal human footprint.

We are now seeking a Junior Software Engineer to join our growing Engineering Team. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of advanced uncrewed vessel technology in a collaborative and innovative environment.

A successful candidate must be a team player with a passion for sharing knowledge and be ready to be at the grassroots of this growing business supporting the growth of a robust and diverse team delivering results that will revolutionise the way we protect and monitor our oceans.

What You'll Do:

• Build innovative solutions: Develop highly robust and configurable software for our remote-operated and autonomous USVs.
• Contribute to the full lifecycle: Work on new features and maintain the infrastructure that supports USV operations.
• Lead projects: Take ownership of assigned projects from the initial concept to final deployment.
• Design user interfaces: Working with our graphics design team you will have a strong influence on how operators control and monitor our vessels by developing intuitive user interfaces.
• Collaborate and integrate: Integrate with back-end systems to support new features or upgrade existing ones.
• Innovate and improve: Contribute to design architecture reviews and workshops, and help develop observability solutions for both the vessel and remote operations centres.

What We're Looking For:

• UK citizenship (unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas for this role).
• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 1+ years of experience, ideally in hardware projects or systems integration.
• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, C#, and Python.
• Experience with UI/UX, particularly in environments with high-volume, real-time data.
• A collaborative and autonomous mindset, comfortable working cross-functionally with operational, systems, and mechanical teams.
• A proactive problem-solver who takes initiative and ownership from problem definition to implementation.

Bonus Points for Experience with:

• Docker and Kubernetes
• Networking (e.g., MQTT, TCP/IP)
• Linux
• OT (e.g., PLC programming)
• The maritime sector

Perks and Compensation

• Salary: £28-35K, depending on experience
• Annual Leave: 24 days plus bank holidays and a Christmas closure
• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive benefits package from Vitality, including full health insurance, dental coverage, discounted gym memberships, and mental health support.
• Life Insurance: Coverage up to 4x your annual salary
• Professional Development: Payment of professional fees
• Equipment: Company laptop provided