Contract Software Engineer – Aerospace & Defence 📍 Motherwell, Scotland
💰 £45–£60 per hour (DOE)
🕒 37.5 hours per week | Initial 6-month contract (likely extension up to 23 months)

Are you an experienced Software Engineer seeking your next contract in a high-integrity, mission-critical industry? This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-respected aerospace and defence business based in Motherwell, working on cutting-edge technologies that support UK defence capabilities.

Why This Opportunity?

- Long-term contract potential – initial 6 months with strong likelihood of extension up to 23 months.

- Hybrid working – initial period on-site followed by a flexible remote/on-site pattern.

- High-impact projects – contribute to major UK defence systems and aerospace technologies.

- Professional environment – join a multi-disciplinary team of experts and gain exposure to advanced engineering standards.

Working Pattern

- First 3 months: Full-time onsite in Motherwell

- After 3 months: Hybrid model – 1 week onsite, 3 weeks remote (subject to business needs)

Daily Rate

- £45 – £60 per hour, depending on experience
(Outside IR35)

Key Responsibilities

- Develop innovative, high-quality software products aligned with established aerospace and defence standards.

- Collaborate within a cross-functional engineering team throughout the software development lifecycle.

- Translate system requirements into robust software designs, implement, test, and support integration and deployment.

- Take technical ownership of deliverables and contribute to mentoring junior team members.

- Support design assurance, configuration management, documentation, and release processes to meet quality and compliance requirements.

What You\'ll Bring

- Background in Instrumentation & Control Engineering or a related discipline.

- Practical experience or working knowledge of:

- PLC programming

- SCADA systems

- Distributed Control Systems (DCS)

- Strong understanding of engineering standards and quality processes within high-assurance industries.

Security Clearance Due to the nature of the work:

- Applicants must be UK citizens, born in the UK

- Must be eligible to undergo and pass security vetting procedures

This role offers a rare chance to apply your technical skills to nationally significant projects in a secure and well-established engineering environment.

If you're a contractor looking to make an impact in the aerospace and defence sector – this is your next move.

Apply directly or get in touch alison.francis@holtengineering.co.uk