Lead UAV Systems Engineer – AI-Driven Autonomy in Oxford

Are you a detail-oriented Lead Systems Engineer passionate about autonomous and uncrewed systems like drones?

At Archangel Autonomy, we deploy AI and robotics to protect service personnel, critical infrastructure, and first responders in large, remote areas. Our mission is to make machines smart enough to become competent teammates instead of just tools, working alongside society’s most exposed workers in remote and challenging locations to protect people, infrastructure, assets and planet at scale.

We're seeking a Lead Systems Engineer ready to make a real impact! In this role you'll report to the CTO and work with the tech team and Project Manager to drive the design and delivery of innovative UXV co-pilot systems. You’ll define system requirements, architecture, and modelling letting us push the boundaries of autonomous systems. This position plays a crucial role in delivering reliable, game-changing solutions to end users. Each feature release brings us closer to transforming the future of autonomous technology. This is your opportunity to accelerate your career while shaping the next generation of intelligent systems.

What you’ll do:

• Be the design authority for a new UAS product.
• Build out system architecture and technical direction for this new product which draws from our existing products but requires complete system definition:
• Define system architecture, CONOPS, and top-level requirements
• Lead technology selection decisions and trade studies
• Establish and manage system performance budgets across subsystems
• Decide on system interfaces and integration strategies
• Serve as technical authority in customer and certification discussions
• Own the technical baseline that informs future product development
• Build on and improve our systems engineering practice.
• Create a new systems engineering process for our team to use by demonstrating it on the product described above.
• Develop a minimum viable systems engineering practice, balancing rigour and speed
• Implement requirements management and interface control that teams adopt naturally because they see it working
• Pioneer AI-augmented workflows within Systems Engineering
• Help ensure design documentation is coherent, consistent, visible, reviewed and verified in its implementation
• Build traceability frameworks connecting requirements, design and verification
• Guide junior engineers in building systems engineering tools that integrate with developer workflows

To succeed in this role you must have:

• 5+ years in systems engineering for complex systems with full product lifecycle exposure (from concept through to supported products in the field)
• Proven track record of taking design authority and making authoritative technical decisions on complex systems
• Experience shipping real products, ideally with high assurance requirements (e.g. DO-178, DO-254, ISO 26262, or equivalent)
• Experience establishing engineering processes in growing organisations (ideally smaller companies with broad exposure, not narrow areas of work within large organisations)
• Working knowledge of product security standards and quality compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, AS 9100, ISO 9001, etc.)
• Practical, hands-on experience with both hardware and software system integration
• Strong technical judgement to make pragmatic trade-offs, balancing startup speed with necessary rigour
• Demonstrated interest in AI tooling and keenness to pioneer new approaches rather than follow traditional methods

Nice-to-have bonus skills:

• Demonstrable experience with drone and UAVs, autonomous systems, or complex systems generally will align well with what we need for this role. Please highlight these in your application or when talking to our team:
• Priority 1: Drone/UAV Systems
• Designing drones/UAV systems through full development lifecycle
• Understanding of safety cases, airworthiness standards, and UAV certification processes
• MOD or defence customer experience
• Background in navigation systems, sensor fusion, or perception for autonomous systems
• Priority 2: Adjacent Autonomous Systems
• Autonomous vehicles and robotics (Ocado, Arrival, Amazon Robotics, Dyson)
• Missile/weapons systems, with focus on the navigation subsystem
• Priority 3: Complex Systems with High Assurance
• Aircraft, aerospace, complex hardware/software systems
• High assurance and safety requirements experience
• Academic/research experience delivering complex navigation systems
• Understanding of model-based systems engineering (MBSE)

By joining us, you'll have:

• The ability to make a measurable difference in the creation of cutting-edge technology in a rapidly growing start-up
• Fast-paced environment with a world-class, positive, talented, and high-achieving team
• Merit-based compensation
• 5% employer pension contribution and pension salary sacrifice schemes
• 25 days holiday + UK bank holidays
• Relocation Support Package
• Team socials
• A variety of perks which evolve frequently: Free Monday team lunch, Cycle2work scheme, Private Medical Insurance, and a yearly voucher for your favourite app

Security clearance:

Due to the sensitive nature of some of our work, it would be beneficial for candidates to be able and willing to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for this role.

Location:

At our core, we value the power of in-person interactions and collaborative sessions. Our office in Oxford, UK is not just a workplace it's a hub for team camaraderie and innovation. We have a unique and welcoming environment where team members enjoy taking their lunch together ‘no one left behind’ mentality but high autonomy. We even bring our international team mates over for special events and all-company gatherings.

What's Next?

Excited to join us? Apply now and a member of our HR team will get in touch. The process typically includes a screening call, assessment, and interview. We look forward to hearing from you!