Senior Algorithmic Software Developer – Space Surveillance & Tracking

Job description

CGI UK Careers – Your mission found here

By playing this video you consent to Google/YouTube processing your data and using cookies – Learn more .

Position Description:

CGI’s Secure Space Systems team is advancing how organisations understand, monitor and respond to activity in space. As a Senior Algorithmic Software Developer, you will shape high-value solutions spanning surveillance, tracking and flight dynamics, turning complex data and emerging techniques into trusted software that delivers meaningful outcomes. You will lead development across both exploratory and mature projects, collaborate with experienced technical specialists, and help grow a team through knowledge sharing and technical guidance. With the freedom to take ownership, challenge ideas and explore new approaches, alongside a supportive community of experts, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to CGI’s work in the space domain.

CGI was recognised in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work List 2025 and has been named a UK ‘Best Employer’ by the Financial Times. We offer a competitive salary, excellent pension, private healthcare, plus a share scheme (3.5% + 3.5% matching) which makes you a CGI Partner not just an employee. We are committed to inclusivity, building a genuinely diverse community of tech talent and inspiring everyone to pursue careers in our sector, including our Armed Forces, and are proud to hold a Gold Award in recognition of our support of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant. Join us and you’ll be part of an open, friendly community of experts. We’ll train and support you in taking your career wherever you want it to go.

Due to the secure nature of the programme, you will need to hold UK Security Clearance or be eligible to go through this clearance. This is a hybrid position.

Your future duties and responsibilities:

In this role, you will take ownership of algorithmic software development for surveillance and tracking applications, contributing across small projects and larger programme streams. You will lead a small team of developers, providing direction, technical guidance and quality review, while working closely with senior technical leads to agree approaches, respond to changing priorities and deliver agreed outcomes. You will combine applied mathematics, software engineering and analytical thinking to develop robust, trustworthy solutions.

You will also help turn research and new ideas into practical capability by investigating emerging techniques, documenting findings and communicating results to internal and external stakeholders. You will have scope to challenge existing approaches, improve development practices and contribute to business development activities, supported by a collaborative environment that values initiative, creativity and continuous learning.

Key responsibilities

Lead & Develop: Guide a small development team through direction, mentoring, quality review and best-practice delivery.

Design & Deliver: Develop and improve software algorithms for space surveillance and tracking.

Innovate & Investigate: Explore techniques in orbit determination, flight dynamics, tracking and correlation, and machine learning.

Optimise & Validate: Define robust strategies for building confidence in software performance, numerical accuracy and quality.

Collaborate & Influence: Work with technical leadership and internal and external stakeholders to agree approaches and communicate progress.

Report & Communicate: Produce clear internal and external reports, technical papers and findings.

Contribute & Grow: Support business development activities and help broaden the team’s technical capability.

Required qualifications to be successful in this role:

You should have a STEM degree or equivalent qualification, strong applied mathematics capability and experience developing algorithms and software in a relevant environment. You will bring experience with libraries such as OREKIT, Stone Soup and Keras, together with strong communication skills, attention to detail and a proactive approach to delivery. Experience with Java or Python, numerical algorithm development and Agile or Waterfall project lifecycles is highly desirable.

STEM qualification: University degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant STEM discipline.

Applied mathematics: Strong competence applying mathematical concepts to software or algorithm development.

Algorithm development: Proven experience developing algorithms with consideration for numerical accuracy.

Software libraries: Experience with OREKIT, Stone Soup and Keras.

Programming: Experience with Java or Python, with willingness to develop broader capability.

Leadership: Experience providing technical direction, guidance or quality review to other developers.

Communication: Strong written and verbal interpersonal skills with confidence engaging stakeholders.

Ownership: Demonstrable willingness to take responsibility, make decisions and deliver against agreed objectives.

Quality mindset: Commitment to best practice, software quality and attention to detail.

Delivery methods: Understanding of software development lifecycles, including Agile and/or Waterfall.

Security: UK National with current SC Clearance or eligibility to obtain SC Clearance.

Location: Willingness to work from CGI’s Leatherhead office at least one day per week.
Space experience: Experience in the space sector or a closely related technical domain is desirable.

Additional technologies: Experience with C++, FORTRAN, Julia and/or Git is desirable.
Travel: Willingness to undertake occasional travel to customers in the UK, Europe and potentially worldwide.

Skills:

·  C++
·  Java
·  Python
·  Software Design
·  Software Design Patterns

What you can expect from us:

Together, as owners, let’s turn meaningful insights into action.

Life at CGI is rooted in ownership, teamwork, respect and belonging. Here, you’ll reach your full potential because…

You are invited to be an owner from day 1 as we work together to bring our Dream to life. That’s why we call ourselves CGI Partners rather than employees. We benefit from our collective success and actively shape our company’s strategy and direction.

Your work creates value. You’ll develop innovative solutions and build relationships with teammates and clients while accessing global capabilities to scale your ideas, embrace new opportunities, and benefit from expansive industry and technology expertise.

You’ll shape your career by joining a company built to grow and last. You’ll be supported by leaders who care about your health and well-being and provide you with opportunities to deepen your skills and broaden your horizons.

That same commitment to fairness extends to how we use technology. To support our recruitment team, AI tools may be used to help assess applications though they never replace human judgement. All hiring decisions remain entirely in the hands of our recruitment professionals.

Come join our team—one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world.