Senior UAV Systems Engineer

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems, not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe today.

• Serve as a senior technical authority for UAS platform development and upgrades, owning overall system coherency, architecture, and performance from concept through to deployment.

• Work day-to-day within multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, avionics, software, flight test) to guide full-lifecycle UAS design, integration, and fielding.

• Conceptualise and capture system architecture for new platforms and enhancements, producing technical trade studies, mass/power/link budgets, and system performance assessments.

• Produce layout and system design plans, define Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and enforce interface control processes across complex mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems.

• Establish and maintain requirements baselines, safety requirements, and end-to-end traceability using industry tools (e.g., IBM DOORS) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches.

• Establish and execute the system safety program, coordinating Hazard Assessments (PHA/SHA/SSHA) and FMEA/DFMEA activities to ensure the platform meets stringent airworthiness and safety requirements.

• Implement robust change control processes to manage and assess the impact of engineering modifications on system safety, performance, and compliance.

• Act as the primary technical interface between internal teams, suppliers, and customers to coordinate payload integration and custom hardware/software interfaces for rapid capability delivery.

• Manage tactical engineering tasks during development sprints and live flight-test campaigns, rapidly resolving cross-discipline technical blockers and maintaining strict configuration control.

• Degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace, Systems, Electrical, Robotic, or a closely related Engineering discipline.

• Significant industry experience with demonstrable systems engineering responsibility specifically on UAVs, autonomous aircraft, or complex, safety-critical aerospace platforms.

• Strong practical experience integrating complex UAS sub-systems: power distribution, propulsion, RF/EMC, EO/IR sensors, datalinks, flight controllers (GNSS/INS), and payload interfaces.

• Proven track record in requirements capture, compliance analysis, and verification/validation (V&V) activities; proficient with requirements management tools (IBM DOORS or similar).

• Familiarity with aerospace safety/airworthiness standards (e.g., ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, DO-254) and the principles of configuration management in a regulated environment.

• Practical familiarity with MBSE principles, interface control processes, and risk mitigation methodologies (FMEA/DFMEA).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; highly organised with the ability to lead technical reviews.

• Ability to operate effectively in fast-moving, agile environments and willingness to travel within the UK/Europe for flight testing and field integration.

• Security-cleared or eligible to obtain UK defence clearance.

Desirable

• Prior experience acting as a Systems Engineering Lead on a fielded UAV platform, authoring flight readiness certification and safety assurance documentation.

• Experience integrating complex/custom tactical payloads, electronic warfare (EW) components, or edge-computing hardware for defence customers.

• A background in start-up or scale-up environments where rapid prototyping, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and pragmatic engineering decisions are standard.