At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop safety-critical embedded software for autonomous systems.
- Company: SAIF Autonomy, pioneering trust and assurance in autonomous systems.
- Benefits: Work with cutting-edge tech, competitive salary, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a rapidly scaling company in the aerospace and autonomy sector.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team solving challenges in autonomous flight safety.
- Qualifications: Strong background in embedded software engineering and safety-critical environments.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Founded to solve one of the biggest barriers to autonomous system adoption - trust and assurance - SAIF Autonomy is building the assurance layer for next-generation autonomous systems. SAIF’s mission is to enable the safe deployment of autonomous systems by providing an independent assurance capability across the entire autonomy stack. As AI and advanced autonomy become increasingly embedded within safety and mission-critical systems, existing assurance approaches often struggle to provide the levels of determinism, certification and regulatory confidence required for widespread deployment. SAIF is developing a platform that delivers runtime assurance, safety monitoring and certified autonomy capabilities across both mission systems and flight-critical control systems. The company’s technology is designed to support highly regulated environments where safety, reliability and certification are paramount.
Working alongside major aerospace, defence and autonomy organisations, SAIF is pioneering safeguards for “Embodied AI” and trusted autonomy, helping operators deploy advanced autonomous capabilities with confidence while aligning with rigorous aviation and safety standards including DO-178C at the highest assurance levels (DAL A / DAL B). As demand accelerates across autonomous aviation, drones, defence systems and next-generation autonomous vehicles, SAIF is scaling rapidly and investing heavily in its engineering capability.
The Role
As part of a highly specialised engineering team, you will contribute to the design, development, verification and certification of embedded safety-critical systems that provide assurance and runtime safety functions across autonomous platforms. The platform is being developed providing mathematically verifiable software foundations suitable for the highest levels of safety assurance. Successful candidates will work across:
- Safety-critical embedded software development
- Runtime assurance architectures
- Autonomous flight safety systems
- Mission assurance and control systems
- Verification and validation activities
- Certification-focused software engineering
- Safety monitoring and fail-safe architectures
- Airworthiness and autonomy assurance frameworks
The engineering team is focused on delivering solutions that support highly regulated autonomous operations, including SORA-based operating environments and future certified autonomous aviation systems.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop safety-critical embedded software for autonomous systems.
- Build software components supporting runtime assurance and autonomous system safety.
- Develop high-integrity software using SPARK Ada and associated toolchains.
- Support software architecture definition for certifiable autonomous systems.
- Work closely with verification and certification teams to achieve regulatory compliance.
- Contribute to the development of DAL-A and DAL-B capable software solutions.
- Support integration across mission computers, flight control systems and safety monitoring functions.
- Participate in software safety analyses and design assurance activities.
- Help scale the platform from prototype capability to enterprise deployment.
Must-Have Experience
- Strong background in embedded software engineering.
- Experience working with C, C++, Ada or similar languages.
- Experience working within safety-critical environments.
- Knowledge of high-integrity software development processes.
- Experience with real-time or embedded systems.
- Familiarity with safety standards and regulated development environments.
- Understanding of software verification and validation methodologies.
Desirable Experience
- Ada or SPARK Ada development experience.
- DO-178C software development experience.
- Automotive (ISO26262 / IEC65108).
- Aerospace, defence or autonomous systems experience.
- Flight control systems or avionics software.
- UAV, UAS, drone or eVTOL platforms.
- Runtime assurance or autonomy assurance systems.
- Autopilot technologies such as ROS / ROS2, MAVLINK, PX4, ArduPilot or equivalent.
- Model-based development and formal methods.
Why Join SAIF?
- Help solve one of the biggest challenges in autonomous systems: trust and safety.
- Work on technology that will underpin the future of certified autonomous flight.
- Join an ambitious company already engaged with major aerospace and defence organisations.
- Build next-generation assurance capabilities for autonomous and AI-enabled systems.
- Work with cutting-edge technologies and runtime assurance architectures.
- Be part of a company scaling rapidly within one of the fastest-growing sectors in aerospace and autonomy.
Safety-Critical Software Engineer employer: SAIF Autonomy
At SAIF Autonomy, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the field of autonomous flight. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous training opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages professional development. Located in a cutting-edge facility, our team enjoys access to state-of-the-art resources and the chance to work on groundbreaking projects that make a real impact in safety-critical systems.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Safety-Critical Software Engineer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at SAIF Autonomy or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to SAIF Autonomy.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like SAIF Autonomy.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like SAIF Autonomy that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Safety-Critical Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at SAIF Autonomy.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at SAIF Autonomy and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at SAIF Autonomy
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If SAIF Autonomy uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
