Product Safety & Certification Engineer – Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (m/w/d)

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today. YOUR MISSION As a Safety Engineer you will be responsible for defining, implementing, and verifying the safety of our advanced Loitering Munition systems throughout their entire lifecycle, ensuring compliance with both national (German) and international (NATO) military and relevant civil aviation standards. This is a critical role to ensure both product safety (functional and ordnance) for our NATO customers and occupational safety in our operations. RESPONSIBILITIES * Plan, establish, and execute the System Safety Program (SSP) in accordance with MIL-STD-882E (Standard Practice for System Safety) and relevant AOP-52 (Guidance on Software Safety Design and Assessment of Munition-Related Computing Systems) or equivalent NATO standards. * Conduct and manage formal safety analyses, including Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Subsystem Hazard Analysis (SSHA), System Hazard Analysis (SHA), Operating and Support Hazard Analysis (O&SHA), and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMEDA) for both hardware and software. * Implement and verify functional safety requirements for electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic systems, with a strong focus on the methodology and lifecycle approach of IEC 61508 (Functional Safety of E/E/PE Safety-Related Systems) adapted for defense applications. * Prepare and manage safety-related documentation, including Safety Cases, Safety Assessment Reports (SAR), and Safety Justifications required for domestic and NATO customer acceptance and service suitability (S3) certification. * Maintain an awareness of civil aviation safety standards from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), particularly in areas like Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or other relevant regulations, to address potential dual-use or operational safety aspects in controlled airspace. * Translate customer (NATO/military) and statutory safety requirements into verifiable system and subsystem requirements. * Participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, and acceptance boards as the safety Subject Matter Expert (SME). * Support the company's OHS program, ensuring compliance with German Occupational Safety Law (Arbeitssicherheitsgesetz - ASiG) and related regulations for handling ordnance and operating complex machinery. * Define and implement internal safety processes, tools, and best practices to continually improve the company's safety culture and management system. QUALIFICATIONS * 3–5 years of professional experience in System Safety, Functional Safety, or Product Safety, preferably within the defense, aerospace, or complex critical systems industry (e.g., rail, automotive with transferrable knowledge). * Bachelor's or Master's degree in Safety Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a comparable technical field. * Knowledge of MIL-STD-882, AOP-50 series (e.g., AOP-52), and IEC 61508. * High proficiency (C1/C2) in both English and German, written and spoken. * Knowledge of German defense and ordnance safety regulations, as well as an awareness of EASA safety standards and their potential relevance to UAV/munition systems. * Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and presentation abilities, and the capacity to work effectively in interdisciplinary, multi-national teams. * Willingness to undergo necessary security clearance checks (ZÜP).

Wingcopter

DEINE AUFGABEN * Design & Development: Develop and maintain embedded communication software for unmanned aircraft systems, covering internal avionics (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART) and external links (LTE, satellite, RF) to enable reliable autonomous operations. * System Integration: Define and manage interfaces between avionics, flight control, payloads, and ground systems, collaborating with hardware and systems teams to ensure end-to-end reliability. * Verification & Validation: Support DO-178C–aligned verification activities, including requirements-based testing, SIL/HIL, simulation, flight test support, and compliance documentation. * CI/CD & Code Quality: Contribute to static analysis, CI pipelines, automated testing, code reviews, and unit/integration test frameworks (e.g., Google Test). * Documentation & Knowledge Sharing: Create clear technical documentation and design specifications to support long-term maintainability. DEIN PROFIL * Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field. * 5+ years of experience in embedded C/C++ development for real-time, resource-constrained, or safety-critical systems. * 3+ years of hands-on experience designing and integrating embedded communication systems, including internal buses (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART) and external data links (LTE, RF, satellite) in complex or aerospace environments. * Hands-on experience with RTOS or embedded Linux platforms as well as CMake, Docker, Git, CI pipelines, and automated testing frameworks. * Strong debugging skills using tools such as JTAG, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes. * Knowledge of safety and certification standards (e.g., DO-178C, ISO 26262) is a plus. * Strong problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate in cross-functional teams. * Effective communication skills; fluent in English (German is a plus). WAS DU ALS IDEALE KANDIDATIN ODER IDEALER KANDIDAT MITBRINGST * You thrive in collaborative environments and value collective success. * You approach challenges with a positive mindset and a proactive attitude. * You believe technology has the power to improve society and drive positive change for the future. WAS WIR ANBIETEN * A free parking space right at the office – for the days you come in. * Enjoy attractive employee discounts with corporate benefits on a variety of products and services. * Join the fun at our employee events and team-building activities. * Many of our roles offer remote work options and flexible hours to balance your life and work. * Stay fit with access to EGYM Wellpass  – your wellbeing is a priority. * On two wheels to work? Take advantage of our Business Bike option and commute the healthy way. WARUM WIR? * A motivated and supportive team, where every voice is heard, and collaboration drives our success. * A fast-growing tech startup, where the pace is exciting, and every day presents new challenges and opportunities. * A place where your ideas can take flight, allowing you to shape and influence projects from the ground up. * Dedicated to your personal and professional growth, offering opportunities to learn, develop, and thrive. * A company that values impact, where your work truly makes a difference and contributes to something meaningful.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. YOUR MISSION STARK's autonomous platforms — aerial and maritime — operate in contested, high-stakes environments where safety systems must function without exception. As Product Manager for Safety-Critical Systems, you will own the requirements engineering, roadmap and delivery of the systems that make that guarantee possible: from Flight Termination Systems on our UAVs to fire suppression and recovery on our USVs. This is a hands-on, high-accountability role at the intersection of systems engineering, software engineering and cybersecurity, and the foundation of trust that enables everything STARK ships.  RESPONSIBILITIES * Own the requirements engineering, roadmap and delivery for all safety-critical systems across STARK's UAV and USV platforms * Lead product-level contributions to Functional Hazard Analyses (FHA) and Fault Tree Analyses (FTA), translating identified risks into concrete product requirements * Serve as the product bridge between cybersecurity and safety engineering * Champion a "Digital Thread" for safety: end-to-end traceability from high-level system safety requirements through development, verification, and post-mission analysis * Define architectures that are mass-scalable and cost-effective — not bespoke, one-off solutions — enabling STARK to deploy safe autonomous systems at scale * Collaborate with systems engineers, system safety engineers, certification leads, and executive stakeholders to drive design decisions and communicate risk clearly * Drive the company's "Digital-First Safety" posture, ensuring compliance with applicable standards (e.g. SIL-2/3, DO-178C, IEC 61508) while maintaining architectural resilience against emerging threats. * Shape STARK's approach to safe agentic autonomy — ensuring increasingly autonomous behaviour remains deterministic and verifiable QUALIFICATIONS * Degree (B.Sc. or M.Sc.) in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical discipline * Proven track record as a Product Manager, Product Owner, or Systems Engineer delivering complex hardware/software systems under rigorous safety or regulatory standards * Deep working knowledge of safety standards and methodologies, e.g. IEC 61508, DO-178C, DO-254, ISO 26262, FHA, FTA * Experience taking a hardware/software product from concept through certification and into field deployment * Technical fluency in safety architecture concepts: redundancy topologies, dissimilar architectures, real-time operating systems * Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional delivery activities and drive decisions in ambiguous, high-stakes technical environments * Eligible to obtain appropriate security clearance for defence work NICE TO HAVE * Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and standards such as MOSA or FACE * Background in cybersecurity — particularly in understanding how offensive threat models translate into safety requirements * Familiarity with autonomous systems or UAV/USV platforms * Experience in a scaling defence-tech or aerospace startup environment If you're interested in building the future of European Defence with us, and you see yourself reflected on the description above, please send us your CV in English. We´re looking forward to meeting you!