Software Engineer
Sedgefield | Hybrid working (typically 3 days on-site) | £38,000 - £46,000 per annum

About the Role

CPI is seeking a AI Software Engineer to join their Electronic Engineering team in Sedgefield, delivering AI, software and digital solutions as part of end-to-end product development programmes.

This is not a maintenance or support role; You will be involved in building real products - from initial concept through to deployment - working alongside electronics and hardware engineers to deliver innovative solutions used in healthcare, medtech, sensors, wearables, and industrial environments.

You will contribute to the full software lifecycle, including application development, cloud-based systems, and (where applicable) AI-enabled solutions. This role offers rare exposure to the complete journey from prototype to market, including integration with hardware, sensors, and embedded systems.

Hybrid working is supported, typically three days per week on-site, with flexibility depending on project needs.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

Product & Software Development

• Design, build, and deliver software products from concept through to production
• Contribute to full‑stack development across backend services, web, and mobile applications
• Work closely with electronics and hardware engineers to integrate software with physical devices and sensors

Core Technology Stack

• Develop backend systems and applications using Python (essential)
• Build user interfaces and applications using React and React Native
• Contribute to cloud‑hosted web applications, ideally using Node.js or similar technologies

AI & Advanced Software (where applicable)

• Contribute to AI‑enabled applications, including data-driven and intelligent systems
• Support model training, fine-tuning, and deployment where experience allows
• Work with tools and approaches such as:
  • MLflow and model lifecycle tools
  • Gradient boosted trees or custom model development
  • AI application frameworks (e.g. LangChain, RAG-style architectures)

Experience across both AI application development and model development is highly desirable, though not essential.

Collaboration & Delivery

• Work within a small, highly capable multi‑disciplinary team
• Take ownership for delivering complex software components in a hands-on way
• Contribute to technical decision-making, architecture discussions, and solution design
• Engage across busy project environments with frequent collaboration and stakeholder interaction

About You:

You are a hands-on software engineer who enjoys building products rather than maintaining legacy systems. You're comfortable working across multiple technologies and don't need everything tightly defined before you start.
You'll thrive in a small team environment, where flexibility, curiosity, and self-direction are valued.
You'll bring:

• Strong Python development experience (essential)
• Experience building applications using React and/or React Native
• Full‑stack development experience with modern frameworks and technologies
• Evidence of delivering complex projects or products
• A practical, problem-solving mindset

Desirable (but not essential):

• Experience with Node.js in cloud or web applications
• Exposure to AI / machine learning, including model development or AI-powered applications
• Experience with firmware, microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi, or embedded systems
• Use of lightweight ML frameworks (e.g. TensorFlow Lite) on devices
• Personal projects, side projects, or self‑driven development work

Candidates who have worked in small teams or on self‑led technical projects often thrive in this environment.

Why Join CPI?

• Rare opportunity to work on true end-to-end product development
• Exposure to hardware, electronics, sensors, and software in one role
• Challenging, varied technical problems across multiple industries
• Small, collaborative team with wide technical scope
• Competitive salary (£38k-£46k) and hybrid working

Location & Working Pattern

• Based at CPI's Sedgefield site
• Hybrid working typically 3 days on-site, with flexibility based on project needs
• Some weeks may require increased on-site presence
• Role operates in a busy, highly collaborative environment, so ideally someone who can work closely with hardware engineers onsite

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.