Principal Systems Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Principal Systems Engineer (Aerospace): Driving a safety-by-design approach for next-generation Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) with an accent on safety-critical architecture and hazard analysis. Focus on defining system interfaces, managing safety integration, and conducting rigorous verification and validation through FMEA and PHA.

Location: Swindon, UK

Company

hirify.global is a defence technology company developing software-defined, high-performance unmanned systems to bolster the technological edge of NATO Allies.

What you will do

• Lead system safety for UAS development and upgrades, owning platform safety from concept through delivery.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, avionics, software) across the full design and test lifecycle.
• Develop system architecture, technical trade studies, and safety-critical sizing for new platforms.
• Execute the system safety program, including Preliminary Hazard Analyses (PHA) and System/Subsystem Hazard Assessments (SHA/SSHA).
• Coordinate FMEA and DFMEA activities across multidisciplinary teams to ensure system coherency.
• Define Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and manage requirements baselines using IBM DOORS and MBSE approaches.

Requirements

• Degree in Systems, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Significant experience with systems engineering and safety responsibility on UAV, aerospace, or complex safety-critical platforms.
• Practical experience integrating power systems, RF/EMC, EO sensors, networking, and flight controllers.
• Proficiency with requirements management tools (IBM DOORS) and conducting safety analyses (FMEA/DFMEA).
• Familiarity with safety standards such as ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, and DO-254.
• Security-cleared or eligible to obtain UK defence clearance.

Nice to have

• Prior experience authoring safety assurance documentation and risk management artefacts.
• Experience integrating complex custom payloads (hardware, electrical, and software interfaces).
• Experience working in start-up or scale-up environments with rapid prototyping and iterative testing.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to develop deployable, high-performance systems for critical defence needs.
• Work within a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Fast-moving and ambiguous environment focusing on pragmatic engineering and rapid innovation.
• Engagement in the full product lifecycle from conceptual design to fielding.