Software Engineer

Software Engineer

Location: Kent, GB
Post Date: 2026-10-17

Company Overview

AALTO HAPS is 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, with a current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. Operating from above 60,000+ feet, or 20 km, AALTO can deliver applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation. Stratospace operates in a new layer between most air traffic and low-Earth orbit, where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners.

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 new possibilities.

Role Overview

As a Software Engineer, you'll develop robust, safety-critical software for airborne systems, working hands-on with complex engineering challenges where quality, reliability, and precision are paramount. You will primarily work in C, with opportunities to use C++ and Python, contributing across requirements, design, implementation, integration, verification, and qualification. This role is for someone who enjoys solving real-world engineering problems, collaborating across disciplines, and seeing their work progress from concept to aircraft-level integration.

If you are motivated by meaningful technical work, high standards, and the opportunity to contribute to pioneering aerospace programs, this is a chance to make a visible impact in a highly collaborative engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain high-quality software for safety-critical airborne systems, primarily using C, with C++ and Python where appropriate.
• Contribute across the full software development lifecycle, from requirements capture and design through to implementation, integration, verification, and qualification.
• Work closely with Systems, Hardware, Test, and Flight Operations teams to solve aircraft-level challenges and deliver integrated engineering solutions.
• Support software integration, debugging, test automation, and evidence generation for qualification and certification activities.
• Participate in technical reviews, challenge assumptions constructively, and help strengthen engineering best practices.
• Contribute to a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills and Knowledge

• Practical software engineering experience, ideally including 3+ years in aerospace or another safety-critical environment.
• Experience contributing to airborne software development within a DO-178C environment, including requirements, design, implementation, integration and verification.
• Strong C programming skills, with experience in C++ and Python.
• Experience working with embedded, real-time, or resource-constrained software systems.
• Familiarity with software requirements management, verification, traceability, and configuration management processes.
• Strong problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills, with the ability to work methodically through complex technical issues.
• A collaborative communication style and the confidence to work effectively with engineers from multiple disciplines.
• Awareness of related standards such as DO-330, DO-331, DO-332, DO-333, ARP4754A/B, DO-278, DEF STAN 00-55, or DEF STAN 00-56 would be advantageous.

Why This Role Stands Out

• You'll work on meaningful software that directly supports advanced aircraft systems.
• You'll be part of a multidisciplinary engineering team where software, hardware, systems, and operations come together.
• Opportunities to broaden your technical expertise across safety-critical development, verification, and certification.
• See the impact of your work in a challenging, innovative, and fast-moving aerospace environment.

Employee Benefits

• Attractive market-aligned salary complemented by a short-term incentive plan.
• 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
• Private medical insurance, dental, and optical cash back.
• Personal pension plan for secure future savings.
• Income protection and life assurance schemes.
• Discounted salary sacrifice scheme for the latest vehicles.
• Employee assistance program for support when needed.
• Employee discounts via Perkbox on household goods, travel, and more.

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