Systems Engineer (Avionics)

Who we are

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.

We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.

The role

You will collaborate with a team developing the world’s first AI-enabled electronic warfare capability for a 4+ generation fighter jet—from concept to maiden flight. As an integral member of our chief engineering team, you will guide system engineering activities, spanning from aligning on and validating requirements with the customer to final system qualification and certification with aviation authorities. Your core focus will be to partner with our AI software specialists to ensure the developed EW software (airborne and ground) seamlessly meets customer needs and delivers exceptional operational impact.

The day-to-day

• Collaborate on system requirements with our customer to derive and validate high-level software requirements, ensuring our electronic warfare capabilities perfectly align with operational needs

• Maintain comprehensive traceability from system requirements through to all software development artefacts, establishing clear technical product baselines alongside configuration management to guarantee certification readiness

• Facilitate regular technical risk board meetings with software engineers to co-create risk mitigation strategies, effectively safeguarding project timelines and delivery quality

• Ensure the meticulous planning of all technical deliverables in collaboration with project management, monitoring implementation progress to guide the team towards a successful first flight

• Oversee the preparation of all technical documents to guarantee they meet rigorous compliance and certification standards, authorising them prior to customer delivery

• Manage the final software product qualification and certification activities in partnership with both the customer and relevant aviation authorities, ensuring seamless deployment to active service

• Partner with our quality assurance team to guarantee that all technical deliverables uphold established quality standards, promptly resolving any findings to preserve project integrity

• Deliver clear and actionable updates on project status and technical changes to Chief Engineering and Programme Management, empowering stakeholders to make informed, timely decisions

You should apply if you

• Have delivered software-intensive avionics or electronic warfare systems from conceptual design through to successful first flight

• Demonstrate extensive expertise in developing embedded software for avionics systems in accordance with DO-178C and ARP4754B, covering the full lifecycle from initial requirements to software verification

• Have cultivated trusted relationships with civil or military aviation authorities, including active participation in formal panel meetings or Stages of Involvement (SOI)

• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and accessibly, ensuring seamless alignment between internal engineering teams and external stakeholders

Nice to Have

• Hold a degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, physics, computer science, or a related discipline equipping you with a thorough technical understanding of complex systems

• Familiarity with the integration of modern AI or machine learning models into highly regulated aerospace environments

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• Competitive salary and VSOP options

• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation

• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance

• Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)

• Social: regular company events and monthly social allowances

• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers

• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work

These are the core benefits across all locations, there may be additional benefits in certain locations.

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.