Software Developer - Contractor

DEA Aviation is the UK-based lead operational company within the wider DEA Group. As part of a strategic corporate structure, the Group includes European Specialised Aviation Operations (ESAO), a wholly owned subsidiary based in Malta. Our technology is at the core of what we do. We design and build integrated software and hardware systems that bring together complex sensor technologies and different technical standards. The result: flexible, reliable systems that perform under pressure and deliver on tight timelines. As a Senior Software Engineer you will be contributing to the design, development and delivery of robust, mission-critical systems. Building high-quality software, collaborating with experienced engineers and growing your technical expertise in a highly regulated environment. Taking ownership of your work, contributing to team standards and continuously developing your skills while solving real-world problems. You care about clean code, reliable systems, and delivering value in a safe and efficient way. Key Responsibilities Architect, document, build, and maintain scalable applications using Python and React Contribute to solutions from design through to delivery and support Develop applications, including Progressive Web Apps, using React, Flask, and Python Build and integrate REST APIs and contribute to event-driven services Troubleshoot issues to resolution across aircraft mission and business systems Deliver changes regularly and communicate progress clearly within the team Write and maintain clear documentation to support colleagues, and the customer experience Work within multi-disciplinary team, contributing to customer and regulatory requirements Technical Experience & Qualifications Hold a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent practical experience Have a proven track record of software delivery from inception through to production and maintenance Skills Profile Active SC Clearance (existing ideally, eligible mandatory) Experience with Python and building applications using React Working knowledge of relational and/or databases such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, DynamoDB Understanding of software engineering fundamentals Comfortable with AWS services (e.g. EC2, Lambda, or similar) Familiarity with Git and collaborative development workflows Some experience with Docker and containerised environments Awareness of CI/CD practices and automated testing Understanding of Linux environments Strong problem-solving skills and a lifelong learner Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively in a team Working within regulated environments A proactive mindset and eagerness to develop your skills Naturally default to data-driven decision making Champion engineering excellence, leading code reviews, shaping automated testing strategies, and writing clean, maintainable code Mentor and upskill mid-level and junior engineers, acting as a technical multiplier for your team Architect and build reusable, performant front-end components and drive front-end architecture using React Design and scale microservices-based systems and APIs, proactively addressing latency, reliability, and system bottlenecks Implement robust system resilience (e.g., retries, timeouts, circuit breakers) and drive a security-first approach to development Define and implement observability strategies using modern logging and monitoring tools to ensure system health Optimise and manage CI/CD pipelines to ensure smooth, predictable, and secure deployment lifecycles Collaborate with product and design teams to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions