Autonomous Systems Development Consultant

Frazer-Nash Consultancy; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with yearly reviews

25 days holiday + 5 additional days

Flexible working options

Company pension scheme

Professional development support

Life assurance and private healthcare

Job summary

Frazer-Nash Consultancy is seeking an Autonomous Systems Development Consultant to support development, integration and assurance of autonomous and uncrewed systems in the Midlands. You will work with clients and multidisciplinary teams to turn operational needs into practical, safe system solutions.

The role blends strong systems thinking with hands-on development, shaping concepts, architectures and evidence across the lifecycle from prototyping to deployment support.

Qualifications

• Degree in aerospace, systems, software, robotics, control, electronic engineering, mathematics, physics or related discipline.
• Experience developing, integrating, testing or assuring complex software-enabled or autonomous systems.
• Structured approach to systems engineering, requirements, interfaces, configuration and verification.
• Experience using modelling, simulation, prototyping or test environments to understand system behaviour.
• Ability to write clear technical material and present conclusions with confidence.
• Collaborative work in multidisciplinary teams and client engagement.

Responsibilities

• Understand operational needs with clients and end users.
• Translate needs into requirements, concepts of operation and development plans.
• Support development and integration of autonomy functions with platforms, sensors and mission systems.
• Develop or assess algorithms for guidance, navigation, control, planning and decision-making.
• Use modelling, simulation and digital engineering to assess performance and reduce risk.
• Plan and support verification, validation, trials and testing with clear evidence.
• Identify risks and propose proportionate mitigations.
• Communicate complex issues to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to bids, client relationships and Frazer-Nash capability.

Skills

Systems engineering

Requirements management

Modelling & simulation

Software development

Education

Relevant engineering/science degree

Tools

C/C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Title
Autonomous Systems Development Consultant

Title
Autonomous Systems Development Consultant
Salary range: £40,000 - £80,000 dependent on experience
Location: Midlands. We will consider suitable candidates across the region, with access to a Frazer-Nash office and client sites as required.
Working pattern: Flexible hybrid working, with time split between the office, client sites and home working.
Closing date: 4th December 2026
We encourage early applications, as vacancies may close once we receive sufficient applications.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Frazer-Nash is seeking an Autonomous Systems Development Consultant to support the development, integration and assurance of autonomous and uncrewed systems. Based in the Midlands, you will work with clients and multidisciplinary teams to turn operational needs into practical, safe and credible system solutions.

The role suits someone who combines strong systems thinking with hands-on development experience. You will help shape concepts, architectures, software-enabled capabilities and evidence across the lifecycle, from early experimentation and prototyping through integration, verification and deployment support.

You may contribute across uncrewed systems, mission systems, autonomy functions, control and decision-making, simulation, digital engineering and test environments. The exact balance will reflect your experience and client demand.

What You Will Do

• Work with clients and end users to understand operational needs, constraints and measures of success.
• Translate needs into clear requirements, concepts of operation, system architectures and development plans.
• Support the development and integration of autonomy functions for systems, including interfaces with platforms, sensors, effectors, communications and mission systems.
• Develop, adapt or assess algorithms and software for areas such as guidance, navigation, control, planning, decision-making, perception or human-autonomy teaming.
• Use modelling, simulation, digital engineering, Software-in-the-loop and Hardware-in-the-loop approaches to explore performance and reduce technical risk.
• Plan and support integration, verification, validation, trials and test activities, producing clear evidence and traceability.
• Identify technical, safety, security, regulatory and programme risks, and help teams select proportionate mitigations.
• Communicate complex technical issues clearly to both specialist and non-specialist stakeholders.
• Contribute to bids, client relationships and the growth of Frazer-Nash capability in autonomous systems.
• Connect the right specialists across disciplines, recognising when another person is better placed to lead a particular activity.

Essential Experience

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• A degree or equivalent practical experience in aerospace, systems, software, robotics, control, electronic engineering, mathematics, physics or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience developing, integrating, testing or assuring complex software-enabled or autonomous systems.
• A structured approach to systems engineering, requirements, interfaces, configuration, verification and technical decision-making.
• Experience using modelling, simulation, prototyping or test environments to understand system behaviour and performance.
• Ability to write clear technical material and present conclusions, options and recommendations with confidence.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and engage effectively with clients.

Useful Experience

• Uncrewed systems, remotely piloted aircraft, advanced air mobility or mission autonomy.
• Guidance, navigation and control; path or mission planning; optimisation; sensor fusion; perception; artificial intelligence or machine learning.
• Software development using languages or environments such as C/C++, Python, MATLAB or Simulink.
• Robotics or autonomy frameworks, simulation platforms, digital twins, SIL or HIL testing.
• Real-time, low-latency messaging frameworks (such as DDS/ROS 2) as well as cloud telemetry and IoT communication protocols (such as MQTT).
• Safety-critical development, safety cases, cyber security, airworthiness, certification or relevant standards and regulation.
• Systems modelling and architecture methods, including MBSE and tools such as SysML.
• Planning or supporting trials, flight test, experimentation or operational evaluation.
• Consultancy, technical leadership, bid development or building client relationships.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Curious and pragmatic, with the judgement to know when deeper analysis is needed and when good is good enough.
• Comfortable working with uncertainty and turning ambiguous problems into a clear, proportionate plan.
• Commercially aware and focused on delivering value and outcomes for the client.
• Willing to take ownership of delivery, personal resource planning and professional development.
• Committed to building trust, sharing knowledge and helping others succeed.

SECURITY

Due to the nature of the work undertaken by Frazer-Nash Consultancy, candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening and must be able to satisfy the clearance criteria applicable to UK National Security Vetting and individual client assignments.

Benefits

We provide our people with an excellent benefits package that includes:

• Competitive salary with yearly reviews.
• 25 days holiday, with the opportunity to buy five additional days.
• Flexible working options.
• Enhanced parental benefits.
• Company pension scheme.
• Targeted professional development and support towards professional registration.
• Life assurance and private healthcare membership.
• Bonus scheme linked to company performance.
• Paid membership fees for a professional institution.
• Cycle-to-work scheme and season-ticket loan.
• Further optional benefits that can be tailored to individual requirements.