Solutions Architect – Autonomous

Overview

Vous will oversee the end-to-end autonomy architecture for a defence-grade program delivering modular autonomy for USVs. You will translate missions into a coherent system architecture, manage phased releases, and ensure traceability from requirements to release. The role involves leading cross-functional teams, governance of integration and assurance, and shaping safe, reusable architectures for trials and early operations. A UK security clearance and travel for trials are required. This is a strategic, impact-led opportunity to drive autonomy capabilities in a frontline defence context.

Pay / Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Flexi working (core hours 10:00-15:00)
• Private medical (optional family cover)
• Pension (5% employer contribution)
• Life assurance (3x salary)
• Cycle to Work + electric car scheme

Responsibilities

• Define and own end-to-end autonomy architecture, including onboard systems, mission management, remote operations, communications, simulation environments, payload interfaces, APIs, data models, and service contracts
• Lead roadmap delivery through phased releases, dependencies, acceptance criteria, capability maturity, and operational readiness
• Govern system integration, verification, and assurance with traceability from requirements through testing and release
• Drive architecture standards, reusable virtual integration environments, and safe operation models including authority transfer and fail-safe behaviours
• Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, supporting design reviews, trials, commissioning, and early deployments

Key requirements

• Proven experience designing and delivering complex autonomy, robotics, aerospace, automotive, maritime, or safety-critical cyber-physical systems
• Strong systems engineering expertise translating operational requirements into architectures, interfaces, delivery plans, and technical trade studies
• Hands-on software, networks, sensors, platforms, simulation (SIL/HIL), test automation, integration, troubleshooting, and field trials
• Knowledge of safety engineering, assurance frameworks, supplier management, acceptance governance, and technical delivery leadership
• Excellent stakeholder communication skills
• A relevant degree (or equivalent experience)
• Eligibility for UK Security Clearance and willingness to travel for trials and deployments

• Stakeholder communication
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Problem-solving under complex constraints
• ROS 2
• DDS (or comparable robotics middleware)
• Sensor fusion and autonomy sensors (radar, EO/IR, AIS, GNSS, lidar, sonar)

…