Software Development Engineer (Aviation Control & Autonomy)

Thomas Search; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched contribution pension scheme

Generous holiday allowance

Health Cash Plan / Private Medical & D

Dental Insurance

Employee discount portal

Armed Forces Covenant support

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Thomas Search is seeking a Software Development Engineer (Control & Autonomy) for Farnborough. You will design, develop and deliver autonomy solutions for crewed and uncrewed aviation systems, taking ownership of work packages from concept to live trials.

You will apply software and systems engineering, develop control algorithms, and produce production-level autonomy software using C/C++. Requires SC clearance eligibility and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across UK sites.

Qualifications

• Proven C programming experience, ideally C++, within complex or safety-critical systems.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles.
• Background in control, autonomy or complex software-based systems.
• Experience with modelling, simulation or algorithm development.

Responsibilities

• Own technical work packages and contribute to R&D activities.
• Lead or contribute to algorithm development for autonomous systems.
• Develop production-level autonomy software using C/C++, with Matlab exposure.
• Model uncrewed systems within synthetic environments.
• Support hardware integration, testing and trials in the UK and overseas.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external partners to deliver capability.

Skills

C programming

C++

Systems engineering

Autonomy/Control software

Modelling/simulation

MATLAB

Education

Degree in Engineering/Physics/Applied Mathematics

Tools

MATLAB

Job description

Software Development Engineer (Control & Autonomy)

As a Software Development Engineer, you\'ll play a key role in designing, developing and delivering autonomy solutions that support complex military aviation systems, helping shape the future of crewed and uncrewed operations.

Day-to-day, you\'ll take ownership of technical work packages, contribute to research and development activities, and support the integration and testing of autonomy and control technologies from concept through to live trials.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Applying software & systems engineering principles to the development of control and autonomy solutions
• Leading or contributing to algorithm development for autonomous and decision-support systems
• Developing production-level autonomy software using C, ideally C++, with exposure to Matlab
• Analysing and modelling uncrewed systems within synthetic environments
• Supporting hardware integration, testing and formally assessed trials in the UK and overseas
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external partners to deliver operational capability

Essential experience of the Software Development Engineer(Control & Autonomy):

• Proven C programming experience, ideally C++, within complex or safety-critical systems
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles
• Background in control, autonomy or complex software-based systems
• Experience with modelling, simulation or algorithm development

Essential qualifications for the Software Development Engineer(Control & Autonomy):

• Degree in a STEM discipline such as Engineering, Physics or Applied Mathematics

This role is full time (37 hours per week) based at Farnborough. Travel to other sites, including trial locations in the UK and overseas, will be expected

Our Benefits

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum