Safety-Critical Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA)

Spectrum IT Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectrum IT Recruitment is seeking a Safety-Critical Software Quality Assurance Engineer to join a growing technology business developing high-integrity autonomous systems. You will audit development processes, ensure compliance with DO-178C/ISO 26262/IEC 61508, and drive quality across the lifecycle in a hybrid Oxfordshire setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in safety-critical/mission-critical software
• Background in aviation, aerospace, autonomous systems or defence engineering environments
• Ability to ensure compliance with industry standards and drive quality
• Proven track record in auditing software development and verification processes

Responsibilities

• Review software development and verification processes across safety-critical autonomous systems
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and internal quality procedures
• Identify process gaps, manage non-conformances and support corrective actions
• Review quality documentation and assurance evidence to support compliance
• Collaborate with engineering teams to maintain high software assurance standards
• Demonstrate capability to challenge and influence engineering teams as needed
• Experience working on safety-critical and mission-critical software systems and autonomous systems

Skills

SQA

Process assurance

Auditing

Safety-critical software

Autonomous systems

Regulatory standards awareness

Tools

DO-178C

ISO 26262

IEC 61508

Job description

Safety-Critical Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA)

We're looking for an experienced Safety-Critical Software Quality Assurance Engineer to join a growing technology business developing complex, high-integrity autonomous systems.

Experience working on safety-critical and mission-critical software, alongside experience of autonomous systems is essential. Ideally, your background will include aviation, aerospace, autonomous vehicles, drones/UAVs, flight software, MOD/defence or a similarly demanding engineering environment.

You'll play a key role in ensuring software development and verification processes are followed correctly, maintaining compliance with industry standards and driving quality across the engineering lifecycle.

Location: Oxfordshire - hybrid working. 3 days per week in office.

What you'll be doing:

• Reviewing and auditing software development and verification processes across safety-critical autonomous systems.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant standards and internal quality procedures.
• Identifying process gaps, managing non-conformances and supporting corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• Reviewing quality documentation and assurance evidence to support compliance.
• Working closely with engineering teams to maintain high standards of software assurance
• Proven experience in Software Quality Assurance (SQA), with a focus on process assurance and compliance beyond software testing or verification alone.
• Experience working on safety-critical and mission-critical software systems.
• Experience working with autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of DO-178C, ISO 26262 or IEC 61508.
• The confidence to challenge and influence engineering teams, when required

Please note, sponsorship is not available for this role.