Autonomous Systems Engineer (All Genders)

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. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly 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 You will be the systems safety lead for a next-generation Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), driving a safety-by-design approach across the entire product lifecycle. This includes ensuring all mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems meet stringent safety requirements. As a Principal / Senior Systems Engineer, you will define the safety-critical architecture and interfaces, manage safety integration and verification activities, and drive system safety validation through rigorous testing, hazard analysis, and compliance reporting. RESPONSIBILITIES * Serve as the system safety lead for UAS product development and upgrades, owning overall platform safety and coherency from concept through delivery. * Work day-to-day within multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, avionics, software, test) across the full lifecycle of UAS design, integration, test and fielding. * Conceptualise and capture system architecture for new platforms and enhancements, producing technical trade studies, safety-critical sizing, and system performance assessments. * Establish and execute the system safety program, including the development of Preliminary Hazard Analyses (PHA) and System/Subsystem Hazard Assessments (SHA/SSHA). * Lead and coordinate Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) activities across multidisciplinary teams. * Produce layout and system design plans, define Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and enforce interface control processes for mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems. * Establish and maintain requirements baselines, including safety requirements, and traceability using industry tools (e.g., IBM DOORS) and MBSE approaches. * Implement robust change control processes to manage and assess the impact of all design changes on system safety and compliance. * Act as the technical interface between internal teams, suppliers and customers to coordinate payload integration, unique/custom hardware or software interfaces, and ensure on-time capability delivery. * Manage tactical engineering tasks during development sprints and test campaigns, resolving cross-discipline issues and maintaining configuration control. QUALIFICATIONS * Degree (or equivalent) in Systems, Aerospace, Electrical or a closely related Engineering discipline. * Significant industry experience with demonstrable systems engineering and system safety responsibility on UAV/aerospace or equivalent complex, safety-critical platforms. * Strong practical experience integrating complex systems: power systems, RF/EMC, EO sensors, networking, flight controllers and payload interfaces. * Proven track record in requirements capture, compliance analysis, and verification/validation activities; proficient with requirements management tools (IBM DOORS or similar). * Demonstrable experience leading and executing safety analyses, including Hazard Assessments (PHA/SHA/SSHA) and FMEA/DFMEA. * Familiarity with safety standards (e.g., ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, DO-254) and the principles of requirements and change control in a regulated environment. * Familiarity with MBSE principles, interface control processes and configuration management in regulated environments. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills; highly organised and detail-oriented. * Ability to operate effectively in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and to travel within the UK/Europe for testing and integration. * A genuine passion for system development, integration and testing and a collaborative, inclusive team approach. * Security-cleared or eligible to obtain UK defence clearance. Desirable * Prior experience leading Systems Engineering and authoring safety assurance documentation and risk management artefacts. * Experience integrating complex/custom payloads for partner or customer use (hardware, electrical and software interfaces). * Background in start-up or scale-up environments where rapid prototyping, iterative testing and pragmatic engineering decisions are typical.

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. 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 Mechanical Design Engineer at STARK, you will be a key contributor to the mechanical architecture of our next-generation UAV platforms. This isn't a role for someone who wants to stay behind a desk; you will take subsystems from initial concept through to high-rate production, working closely with our manufacturing facilities. You’ll be the bridge between ambitious design and reality, diving deep into CAD and Design for Manufacture (DFM). You will work within an agile, cross-functional team to ensure our airframes are robust, cost-effective, and ready for the field. RESPONSIBILITIES * Take ownership of major mechanical assemblies and payload integrations for current and future UAV platforms. * Optimise designs for high-rate production, ensuring we can scale from prototype to hundreds of units without compromising quality. * Apply best practices in parametric modeling, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up analysis to ensure "first-time-right" assembly. * Drive decisions on airframe materials, structural layouts, and manufacturing processes (composites, additive, etc.). * Partner with Stress, Flight Test, and Systems teams to ensure structural integrity and successful flight trials. * Be hands-on with CAD, rapid prototyping, and shop-floor troubleshooting to iterate designs at pace. QUALIFICATIONS * Professional experience in mechanical design, ideally within aerospace, UAVs, automotive, or autonomous systems. * A proven track record of taking parts or structures from a sketch through to verification and into production. * Highly proficient in SolidWorks (CATIA experience is also beneficial). * Strong knowledge of composites, 3D printing, machining, and injection molding. * Familiarity with (or a desire to learn) MIL standards and certification pathways. * Ability to explain complex technical trade-offs to both engineering peers and program leadership. * Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance. Our Commitment to the Armed Forces Community We are proud to hold the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), reflecting our meaningful commitment and ongoing support for UK defence personnel. At our core, we believe in championing those who serve, those who have served, and their families. As part of this scheme, we are dedicated to providing an inclusive, supportive environment where members of the Armed Forces community can thrive and bring their invaluable skills to our team.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a defense technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned vehicles that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective – giving NATO and its allies a decisive edge in the most 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 We are seeking a talented Senior Embedded  Engineer to help design and build the backbone of next-generation systems that integrate data, sensors, and control applications into secure, high-performance software. You will contribute to technology that powers aerospace, automotive, robotics, and defence-related platforms where real-world devices meet advanced software. RESPONSIBILITIES * Create and maintain custom cross-compilation toolchains and SDKs for the team. * Create and maintain a robust, reproducible Yocto-based Linux distribution tailored for autonomous flight  * Take full ownership of the lifecycle for MIPI camera and sensor drivers, ensuring total environmental awareness for our platforms.  * Optimise system boot time and real-time task latency. * Implement fail-safes and watchdogs for mission-critical flight code. QUALIFICATIONS * B.Sc/M.Sc in Computer Science, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. * Senior level development for performance-critical systems (C/C++). * Experience building custom layers, recipes, and Board Support Packages (BSPs).  * Deep knowledge of kernel tuning and optimisation. * Hands-on experience with DTS/DTSI for hardware bring-up. * Writing and debugging drivers and kernel modules. * Proficiency with SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, and PCIe. * Must be eligiable for UK Security Clearance (SC) NICE TO HAVE Nice to Have * Experience with JetPack SDK, L4T, and CUDA/TensorRT. * Driver development for CSI-2 sensors and ISP tuning. * Any experience or desire to use the Rust programming language. * Experience with PX4/ArduPilot flight stacks and MAVLink. * Development of high-throughput nodes and DDS middleware tuning. * Building hardware-accelerated video pipelines for low-latency streaming. * Implementing Secure Boot and encrypted file systems. Our Commitment to the Armed Forces Community We are proud to hold the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), reflecting our meaningful commitment and ongoing support for UK defence personnel. At our core, we believe in championing those who serve, those who have served, and their families. As part of this scheme, we are dedicated to providing an inclusive, supportive environment where members of the Armed Forces community can thrive and bring their invaluable skills to our team.