Systems Engineer - Command and Control (Air)

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

As a Systems Engineer – Command and Control (Air), you will be responsible for the design and delivery of Command and Control (C2) capabilities for an autonomous fighter jet – from concept to maiden flight. You will work with a high-calibre team, align government stakeholders, industry partners, and suppliers around a coherent technical strategy, and own the full system lifecycle: requirements, architecture, integration, verification, and certification. Your decisions will directly shape how militaries command and control autonomous aircraft.

The day-to-day

• Own the end-to-end systems engineering lifecycle, from concept and architecture through to operational deployment

• Define and govern system architecture, ensuring compliance with relevant military and airworthiness standards (including DO-178C and DO-254) and driving coherent interface control across all subsystems

• Lead system integration, validation, and verification activities across hardware, software, and communications domains, resolving cross-disciplinary technical conflicts

• Act as the primary technical authority in relationships with industry partners and suppliers, directing component selection and integration decisions that have direct consequences for programme success and flight safety

• Report on technical progress, risks, and key engineering milestones to the Chief Engineer and Programme Management, providing clear recommendations that enable informed programme-level decisions

You should apply if you

• Have led the technical delivery of safety-critical or mission-critical aircraft systems, military or civil, across the full systems engineering lifecycle from architecture through to certification.

• Have defined and governed complex system architectures in a leading capacity, with demonstrable experience setting technical standards and resolving cross-functional engineering trade-offs

• Communicate with precision and confidence, translating complex technical positions into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders, government customers, and industry partners

• Have guided teams, providing technical mentorship and maintaining engineering rigour under programme pressure

• Are able to work on-site at our Tussenhausen (Unterallgäu) location two to three days per week, and meet the requirements for security clearance in Germany (German citizenship is an advantage; other European citizenship is also considered)

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with Ground Control Station design, high-integrity systems, or formal safety analysis (including DEF STAN, MIL-STD, or equivalent frameworks) in a defence or regulated aerospace environment

• Prior experience leading programmes under DO-178C, DO-254, or equivalent airworthiness standards, with direct engagement with a national airworthiness authority

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 specific sites.

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.