C++ Software Engineer

Senior C++ Software Engineer - Scientific Software

Location: Glasgow, hybrid WFH (50/50 split between home and office)

Salary: Up to £65,000 DOE

KO2's client develops advanced cheminformatics software. Their software helps scientists understand and work better with chemical data. They're looking for an experienced Senior C++ Software Engineer to join their small, growing team in Glasgow. You'll modernise their core C++ codebase and turn complex scientific algorithms into robust, high-performance code.

The company is international and close-knit. The Glasgow team works closely with colleagues in small offices in Germany and France, so you'll be part of a collaborative, multicultural engineering group.

You'll work closely with chemistry subject-matter experts and implement their algorithms using sound design patterns and modern C++. You'll be one of the main code reviewers, protect the quality and consistency of the architecture, and mentor junior developers as they continue to grow.

Key responsibilities

Maintain and modernise a legacy C++ codebase, migrating it gradually to modern C++

Implement new cheminformatics algorithms specified by the SMEs

Review algorithm specifications for feasibility and clarity before implementation

Act as a primary code reviewer, protecting the team's architectural consistency and code quality

Own the test strategy for your work, covering unit and integration tests, edge cases and regression protection

Maintain the CMake build system and related Linux tooling

Mentor junior developers on clean code, architecture and design patterns

Work with colleagues in Glasgow, Germany and France

Document your implementations clearlyEssential skills and experience

Significant commercial modern C++ experience, 17 onwards ideally.

An architectural mindset, with OOP, SOLID principles and design patterns as part of your everyday work

Confidence applying modern idioms to legacy code you didn't write

Strong code review skills. You give thorough, constructive feedback and can spot subtle logic errors and design drift

A solid understanding of concurrency, including writing, debugging and reasoning about multithreaded code, synchronisation and data races

Experience with the Linux development toolchain: CMake, GCC/Clang, gdb, and dynamic linking (RPATH, SONAME)

Familiarity with static and runtime analysis tools such as clang-tidy, Valgrind and sanitisersDesirable skills

Experience of AI-assisted development, such as using Claude Code and directing coding agents on architectural decisions

Implementing algorithms from specifications, and reasoning about their efficiency and complexity

Network programming (TCP/IP and sockets)

Python, and testing frameworks such as pytest and Catch2

Docker and containerised build environments

Maintaining CI/CD pipelinesWhat's on offer

A competitive salary, depending on experience

Flexible hybrid working, split 50/50 between home and the Glasgow office

A small, growing Glasgow team that you can help shape

Working with international colleagues in Germany and France

Challenging, meaningful work on scientific software

A senior role with real influence over architecture and code qualityHow to apply

Send your up-to-date CV to KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions, or contact Laurence Powell today for more details