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# Software Development Engineer (Aviation Control & Autonomy)

- **Company:** Thomas Search Limited
- **Location:** Farnborough, UK
- **Salary:** £40,000.0 - £52,500.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** C (Programming Language), Algorithm Design, Data Analysis, Systems Engineering, C++ (Programming Language), Hardware Design, MATLAB, Software Engineering, Safety Critical Systems
- **Published:** August 1, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5822566064

## About the Role

* Proven C programming experience, ideally C++, within complex or safety-critical systems
 * Knowledge of systems engineering principles
 * Background in control, autonomy or complex software-based systems
 * Experience with modelling, simulation or algorithm development

Essential qualifications for the Software Development Engineer (Control & Autonomy):

 * Degree in a STEM discipline such as Engineering, Physics or Applied Mathematics

This role is full time (37 hours per week) based at Farnborough. Travel to other sites, including trial locations in the UK and overseas, will be expected

## Description

As a Software Development Engineer, you'll play a key role in designing, developing and delivering autonomy solutions that support complex military aviation systems, helping shape the future of crewed and uncrewed operations.
Day-to-day, you'll take ownership of technical work packages, contribute to research and development activities, and support the integration and testing of autonomy and control technologies from concept through to live trials.

Your responsibilities will include:

 * Applying software & systems engineering principles to the development of control and autonomy solutions
 * Leading or contributing to algorithm development for autonomous and decision-support systems
 * Developing production-level autonomy software using C, ideally C++, with exposure to Matlab
 * Analysing and modelling uncrewed systems within synthetic environments
 * Supporting hardware integration, testing and formally assessed trials in the UK and overseas
 * Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external partners to deliver operational capability


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