Senior UAV Systems Architect for Autonomous Aerial Platforms

NIF

Swindon

On-site

GBP 90,000 - 130,000

Full time

14 days+

Application generator

Turn this role into an interview — a resume and cover letter built around what this employer wants.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

STARK is seeking a Senior UAV Systems Engineer to own the UAS platform architecture across the full lifecycle, ensuring safety and compliance. You will lead cross-disciplinary teams in mechanical, electrical, avionics and software to deliver robust, field-ready autonomous systems.

You will define system interfaces, conduct trade studies, manage MBSE processes and safety programs (ARP4754A/DO-178C), and coordinate with suppliers and customers for rapid capability delivery, travel within the

Qualifications

Experience with UAVs, autonomous aircraft, or safety-critical aerospace platforms.
Integrating complex UAS subsystems: power distribution, propulsion, RF/EMC, EO/IR, datalinks, flight controllers (GNSS/INS), payload interfaces.
Requirements capture, compliance analysis, and verification/validation (V&V); DOORS or similar.
Familiarity with ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, DO-254 and configuration management.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior technical authority for UAS platform development and upgrades, owning overall system coherency, architecture, and performance from concept through to deployment.
Work day-to-day within multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, avionics, software, flight test) to guide full-lifecycle UAS design, integration, and fielding.
Conceptualise and capture system architecture for new platforms and enhancements, producing technical trade studies, mass/power/link budgets, and system performance assessments.
Produce layout and system design plans, define Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and enforce interface control processes across complex mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems.
Establish and maintain requirements baselines, safety requirements, and end-to-end traceability using industry tools (e.g., IBM DOORS) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches.
Establish and execute the system safety program, coordinating Hazard Assessments (PHA/SHA/SSHA) and FMEA/DFMEA activities to ensure the platform meets stringent airworthiness and safety requirements.
Implement robust change control processes to manage and assess the impact of engineering modifications on system safety, performance, and compliance.
Act as the primary technical interface between internal teams, suppliers, and customers to coordinate payload integration and custom hardware/software interfaces for rapid capability delivery.
Manage tactical engineering tasks during development sprints and live flight-test campaigns, rapidly resolving cross-discipline technical blockers and maintaining strict configuration control.