Flight Software Validation Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based space company is looking for a Validation & Verification Engineer to ensure flight software reliability for satellites. This role involves designing test cases, reviewing specifications, and writing automation scripts using Python. Ideal candidates have strong experience in embedded systems and automation. You'll be part of a team directly impacting flight safety and mission success.

Qualifications

• Solid experience writing and automating software tests.
• Strong Python skills especially for testing workflows.
• Familiarity with real-time embedded systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and run test cases for embedded flight software.
• Review and validate technical specifications.
• Write automated test scripts using Python.

Skills

Automation of software tests

Python scripting

C/C++ for embedded systems

Git for version control

Test setups for hybrid systems

Tools

VxWorks

RTEMS

Linux (Bash, Make)

Job description

Overview

Validation & Verification Engineer – Oxfordshire, UK | Hybrid (2 days onsite) • Industry: Space Systems, Embedded Software, Test Engineering

A UK-based space company is hiring a Validation & Verification Engineer to join their Flight Software team. You’ll be working on critical real-time embedded systems that control satellites in orbit, helping make sure the software behaves exactly as intended before it flies.

This role is focused on testing and verifying low-level flight software. If you enjoy writing test scripts, building test environments, and digging into system behaviour at a detailed level, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Do

• Design and run test cases for embedded flight software
• Review and validate technical specs, ICDs, and requirements
• Write automated test scripts using Python
• Help set up simulation environments to support software testing
• Work closely with system and subsystem teams to understand software needs
• Support mission-level simulations and validation campaigns
• Be part of a team ensuring reliability for hardware that’s heading into space

What You’ll Need

• Solid experience writing and automating software tests
• Strong Python skills (especially for testing workflows and scripting)
• Familiarity with real-time embedded systems (C/C++)
• Understanding of the software lifecycle in critical environments
• Hands-on with Git and managing software in a test or CI/CD context
• Background in aerospace, space, or similar high-reliability domains
• Experience with test setups for hardware or hybrid systems

Nice to Have

• Experience with real-time OS like VxWorks or RTEMS
• Knowledge of protocols like CCSDS, CAN, or SpaceWire
• Familiarity with ECSS standards, especially ECSS-E-ST-40C
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and versioned test environments
• Any background with NASA cFS or SPARC/PowerPC architectures
• Experience building test environments or test interfaces
• Linux admin or scripting skills (Bash, Make, etc.)

Why This Role?

• You’ll test software that controls real spacecraft
• Your work will directly impact flight safety and mission success
• You’ll be part of a close-knit team where quality really matters
• It’s a technical, hands-on job, not just compliance or checklists
• The company is building real flight hardware, and you’ll help make it fly

If you enjoy turning complex requirements into reliable, well-tested software that ends up in orbit, this is a great opportunity to put those skills to use. Get in touch.