Safety Critical Software Engineer

DCS Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid (onsite 3 days)

Job summary

DCS Recruitment in Oxfordshire seeks a Safety-Critical Software Engineer to join an innovative team developing embedded software for autonomous, AI-enabled systems in highly regulated environments.

The role involves designing safety-critical software, runtime assurance, and working with verification and certification teams to ensure compliance across aerospace, defence and autonomy projects.

Qualifications

• Experience developing embedded software in safety-critical environments.
• Strong knowledge of C/C++ and Ada in real-time systems.
• Experience with software verification, validation and certification processes.
• Familiarity with regulated development environments and industry standards.
• Ability to debug complex embedded software and work in multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop safety-critical embedded software for autonomous platforms.
• Develop components for runtime assurance and safety monitoring.
• Support high-integrity software solutions for regulated contexts.
• Contribute to software architecture and certifiable autonomous systems.
• Collaborate with verification, validation and certification teams.

Skills

Embedded software engineering

C/C++

Ada

Safety-critical environments

High-integrity software

Real-time embedded systems

Regulated development environments

Software verification & validation

Debugging & problem-solving

Team collaboration

Tools

ROS/ROS2

MAVLink

PX4

ArduPilot

Job description

Safety-Critical Software Engineer

Oxfordshire, UK

Hybrid (3 days a week onsite)

Permanent

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join an innovative engineering company developing advanced safety and assurance technologies for autonomous and AI-enabled systems operating within highly regulated environments.

As autonomous technologies become more widely adopted across aerospace, defence and mission-critical applications, the need for robust, certifiable software has never been greater. This organisation is developing high-integrity software platforms that provide runtime assurance, safety monitoring and protection functions for next-generation autonomous systems.

Working alongside leading organisations within aerospace, defence and autonomy, you will be part of a highly specialised engineering team responsible for developing embedded software that supports the safe deployment of autonomous technologies. The position offers the opportunity to work on advanced safety-critical platforms that are helping shape the future of autonomous aviation and trusted AI systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop safety-critical embedded software for autonomous platforms
• Develop software components that provide runtime assurance and safety monitoring capabilities
• Contribute to the development of high-integrity software solutions for regulated environments
• Support the software architecture and design of certifiable autonomous systems
• Work closely with verification, validation and certification teams to ensure compliance objectives are achieved
• Support the development of software suitable for high-assurance and safety-critical applications
• Integrate software across mission systems, flight control systems and safety functions
• Participate in software safety analysis and design assurance activities
• Contribute to the evolution of platform capabilities from development through to deployment
• Support continuous improvement of software engineering processes and standards

Key Skills

• Strong background in embedded software engineering
• Experience developing software using C, C++, Ada or similar programming languages
• Experience working within safety-critical environments
• Understanding of high-integrity software development processes
• Knowledge of real-time and embedded systems
• Experience working within regulated development environments
• Understanding of software verification and validation methodologies
• Strong debugging, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams

Desirable Skills:

• Ada or SPARK Ada development experience
• Experience developing software to DO-178C or similar safety-critical standards
• Aerospace, defence or autonomous systems background
• Experience working within ISO 26262 or IEC 61508 environments
• Flight control systems, avionics or mission-critical software experience
• Experience supporting UAV, UAS, drone or eVTOL programmes
• Runtime assurance or autonomy assurance system development
• Knowledge of ROS, ROS2, MAVLink, PX4, ArduPilot or similar autonomy frameworks
• Model-based development experience
• Formal methods or mathematically verified software development experience
• Understanding of software certification processes within regulated industries

What You Get In Return:

• Flexible hybrid working (3 days per week onsite)
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge autonomous and AI-enabled technologies
• Exposure to advanced embedded software development within safety-critical environments
• Professional development within a highly specialised engineering team
• Opportunity to work alongside industry experts across autonomy, aerospace and defence
• Involvement in technology supporting the future deployment of autonomous aircraft and intelligent systems
• The chance to work on genuinely innovative products solving complex safety and assurance challenges

INDTECH

DCS Recruitment and all associated companies are committed to creating a working environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, gender identity, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, age, or nationality