Senior C++ Software Engineer Software

Senior C++ Software Engineer Lead development of high-performance, low-latency C++ systems for cyber defense

Location:

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Job Tags:
Software

Join our dynamic R&D teams in Cambridge, where you'll contribute to the design, development, and optimisation of high-performance, C++-driven systems powering our company's rapid growth.

Please note this is a hybrid position that requires attendance in the Cambridge office at least 2 days a week.

What will I be doing:

As a Senior C++ Software Engineer, you will own the prototyping and development of new and innovative ideas using modern C++ (C++17/20 and beyond), helping to advance Darktrace's services through high-performance, low-latency systems. You'll balance creativity, logical thinking, and practical constraints to deliver efficient, production-grade features.

You’ll collaborate closely with a cross-functional team of engineers, designers, project coordinators, and technical strategists to deliver cutting-edge solutions, with a strong emphasis on performance, scalability, and robustness. You will also be responsible, but not limited to:

• Contributing to projects ranging from rapid prototyping in modern C++ to the structured development and optimisation of large-scale native systems.
• Designing and implementing efficient, memory-safe, and high-performance code using advanced C++ concepts (RAII, templates, STL, concurrency, smart pointers).
• Advancing our unique methodology for defending against unknown cyber-attacks through performant and secure native tooling.
• Applying a strong engineering mindset that balances innovation with best practices in system design, code quality, and maintainability.
• Developing deep expertise in C++ and adjacent low-level technologies, with opportunities to specialise in systems programming, performance optimisation, or security-focused development.

What experience do I need:

• Comfortable working autonomously, making informed design and implementation decisions within complex C++ codebases, while collaborating effectively within a team.
• Knowledgeable or interested in cyber security, low-level systems, and malware forensics.
• Experienced in performance analysis, profiling, and optimisation of native applications (e.g., multithreading, concurrency, CPU/memory efficiency).
• Familiar with modern C++ development tooling (CMake, GCC/Clang, debugging with GDB/LLDB).
• Familiar with Docker and containerisation.
• Knowledgeable about Linux/Unix environments and systems-level development.
• Knowledgeable about cloud computing environments (beneficial but not essential).
• Experience with complementary languages such as Python or Rust is beneficial, but a strong foundation in C++ is essential.

Benefits:

• 23 days' holiday + all public holidays, rising to 25 days after 2 years of service.
• Additional day off for your birthday.
• Private medical insurance which covers you, your cohabiting partner, and children.
• Life insurance of 4 times your base salary.
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme.
• Enhanced family leave.
• Confidential Employee Assistance Program.
• Cycle to work scheme.