Software Assurance Lead Engineer

NATS; Prestwick; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider. We are looking for a Software Assurance Specialist to help deliver changes into service by validating safety compliance and assurance evidence.

You will work with multi-disciplinary teams, plan and conduct audits, and develop assurance arguments to meet NSSAS standards, collaborating with Safety Services, Operations Safety & Assurance and regulatory bodies. The role offers agile working with a mix of office and remote work.

Qualifications

• Qualified to degree level (or equivalent), preferably in STEM.
• Experience with safety-related systems and safety-critical domains.
• Knowledge of NSSAS and NATS Safety Management System.
• Experience constructing assurance arguments and SASRs.
• Familiarity with regulation and bodies like CAA/EASA.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly.

Responsibilities

• Support production of Supplier Capability Assessments and Software Assurance Plans.
• Identify software development issues impacting performance and assist mitigation.
• Ensure NSSAS compliance across programs and projects.
• Provide software assurance direction to managers and architects.
• Plan and execute audits against NSSAS guidance.
• Develop knowledge to support wider Safety & Assurance deliverables.

Skills

Degree in STEM

Software safety knowledge

NSSAS knowledge

Regulatory awareness

Software assurance experience

Communication skills

Education

Degree or equivalent (STEM preferred)

Tools

Goal Structuring Notation

Software risk analysis

Requirements management

Design assessment

SASR development

Job description

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Salary: £64,770.15 - £86,360.19

Closing Date: 17/8/2026

Job Purpose/Overview

To support the delivery of the software assurance activities as part of the successful implementation of changes into service.

Demonstrate compliance with the NATS Safety Policy such that the accountable roles have the required confidence that the change can be implemented and operated safely.

Other Duties Include

• Support the production of the Supplier Capability Assessment Reports and responsible for Software Assurance Plans, Software Assurance Reports, Audit Reports, and other relevant arguments in order to collate the evidence for the Change Assurance documentation. Provision of Software Assurance Consultation where required.
• Adopt a pro-active approach to identify and understand software development issues that may impact on operational software performance or assurance and support their mitigation.
• Ensuring the Software Assurance activities for Programmes and Projects comply with the NATS Software Safety Assurance System (NSSAS) as defined in the NATS BMS.

• Providing expert software assurance direction and advice to Service Design Managers, System Engineering Managers, Design Authorities, Programme & Project Managers, Safety Managers, Senior Leadership teams and Architects within a project/Programme, including influencing the service/system design to satisfy derived safety requirements in order to ensure that the standards of work conform to best practice and are proportionate to the level of risk.
• Be the focal point for the software assurance aspects on assigned projects/programmes for Safety Services, Operations Safety & Assurance and CAA SARG.
• Responsible for planning and execution of audits against the relevant SW assurance guidance as required in the NSSAS development lifecycle objectives.

Autonomy

• Works independently to deliver assurance evidence as directed by the Senior Safety & Assurance Manager.
• The post holders will routinely refer to their line manager for guidance on high-risk assurance issues and large resource/time commitments.

Job Scope

Assurance documentation (both those for existing Operations and new Project Change assurance) including Operational Safety and Technical Assurance documents are key to enabling NATS and Regulatory acceptance and approvals to be achieved. It is the job holder's responsibility to ensure that the assurance documents achieve these goals; the scope of the job encompasses:

a) Working with the relevant stakeholders to define the software assurance requirements to be applied to the supplier for the change.

b) Liasing with supplier to assess supplier software assurance capability.

c) Developing the assurance arguments that are reasonable, proportionate, well-constructed and as such provide the required level of confidence for the Programme and Project change. Creating the assurance documentation, supported by the evidence, to address the software assurance requirements. This may involve a software assurance assessment or audit.

d) Responsibility for ensuring that the software assurance documentation for the allocated projects are delivered to time, quality and cost.

e) Support Software Assurance Process Improvement as required.

The role holder is expected to develop [supported by suitable training] the knowledge and skills required to support the delivery of the wider Safety & Assurance deliverables associated with technical systems such as Asset Assurance Documents, System Safety Cases as defined in SP403.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Qualified to degree level (or equivalent) preferably in STEM or related discipline.
• An understanding in safety related systems with a knowledge of ATC Operational Systems and Procedures or equivalent experience in business critical or safety related systems. (For example - a core assurance role in a project or projects that made changes to the operations at, or infrastructure supporting, a Unit. E.g. Flight Data Processing, Surveillance, Voice Systems/Services).
• Knowledge of the NATS Safety Management System and NATS Business Management System.
• Detailed working knowledge of the NATS Software Safety Assurance System (NSSAS).
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of regulation and experience of the work of regulatory bodies e.g. SARG.
• Experience in construction of assurance arguments and the production of Software Assurance Summary Reports (SASRs) or equivalent. Where equivalent means to produce software assurance documentation to a defined standard. For example, ED-153, ED-109A, IEC-61508.
• Working knowledge of the principal tools and methods for software assurance. (e.g. Goal Structuring Notation, software risk analysis, software functional failure analysis, requirements management, design assessment, requirements satisfaction, software assurance documentation construction).
• The ability to communicate difficult technical concepts clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing, both internal to and external to NATS.
• Practical experience of providing software assurance support for design authorities, architects, project staff, safety managers.
• Experience in supporting and facilitating the auditing of suppliers to software assurance standards or equivalent audit experience.
• Work package management knowledge.
• Practical experience of working with multi disciplined teams and subject matter experts for the delivery of assurance for implementing changes to the NATS operation.
• The role holder is also expected to be highly motivated and actively work on personal and professional development.
• A passion for software safety or Air Traffic Management and a willingness to learn, develop and take on different tasks under the guidance of their line manager.

Additional Vacancy Information

• \"External stakeholders will include software suppliers, The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and/or European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), other Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), the Royal Air Force (RAF), Military Aviation Authority (MAA) etc.\"
• \"Work Package Management knowledge\" refers to the tasks involved in the scheduling and delivery of appropriate assurance activities and deliverables within agreed time and budget constraints. This may involve the preparation of a schedule of work with estimates, and a break down of the effort required, potentially across a team of assigned resources. The applicant may be required to manage a Software assurance work package which will include planning and estimating the Software Assurance work package tasks and report progress against scheduled/budget to the change lead and management stakeholders during regular update sessions.

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS?

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements. Find out more here.

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe - we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.