AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr.
Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.
AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.
Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace. You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.
About The Role
We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to join the team leading the development of the Zephyr High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS). In this role, you will play a key part in designing, developing, and integrating software systems—focusing on ground control and onboard software to enable seamless communication, control, and mission execution. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, scalable, and compliant software solutions that meet high standards for performance, safety, and regulatory compliance
Responsibilities to include:
Lead the integration of onboard and ground-based software systems, including Flight Management Systems (FMS), Flight Deck interfaces, and mission control applications.
Design and implement ground systems for UAV control, including datalink management, Satcom Systems, network routing (TCP/UDP), and real-time telemetry processing.
Define and integrate the Flight Management System (FMS) capabilities tailored for long-endurance UAV operations, including autonomous navigation, mission planning, and contingency handling.
Develop and refine intuitive HMI solutions for UAV operators, ensuring situational awareness, mission control, and safety-critical feedback through user-centred design principles. This includes developing interfaces for mission planning, flight control, and telemetry visualisation.
Establish and maintain software architecture for mission-critical systems, ensuring modularity, scalability, and fault tolerance.
Gather, evaluate, and manage software requirements to ensure they are traceable and consistently aligned with overarching system goals.
Conduct and contribute to software-focused design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), ensuring alignment with system architecture and mission needs.
Develop and execute software verification and validation plans, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and system-level testing.
Ensure software systems comply with aviation standards such as ARP4754A, ARP4761 and DO-178C and support certification efforts.
Identify and mitigate software-related risks, including cybersecurity, data integrity, and operational reliability.
Act as a liaison between software teams and systems engineering, ensuring cohesive integration across avionics, payload, and ground systems.
Maintain comprehensive documentation of software designs, test results, and integration procedures.
Skills and Knowledge Required
Proven experience in software systems engineering, preferably in aerospace or UAV domains.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
Hands-on experience with onboard software development and ground control systems.
Proficiency in network protocols (TCP, UDP), datalink technologies, and real-time systems.
Familiarity with ARINC 661 standards for cockpit display systems is highly desirable, along with experience using OpenGL or similar graphics libraries for rendering real-time visual interfaces.
Familiarity with aviation standards (DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754, ARP4761).
Experience with Systems Engineering tools (e.g., JAMA, IBM DOORS) and MBSE methodologies (desirable).
Knowledge of UAV operations, safety standards, and regulatory frameworks.
In addition to an attractive market-aligned salary, we offer:
Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.
Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
Stay Healthy: We’ve got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.
Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.
Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.
Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.
We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.
Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at AALTO, you can register your details here: https://careers.aaltohaps.com/connect
