Autonomy Systems Software Engineer

We are looking for a Autonomy Software Systems Engineer to design, integrate, and verify autonomous sensing and navigation systems for European space and defence programmes, including ESA and EDA projects. You will translate mission needs into coherent system solutions for rendezvous and proximity operations and space-based Space Situational Awareness. The role combines requirements engineering, navigation and estimation, system architecture, prototype integration, and end-to-end verification. What you will do Analyse mission, stakeholder, and operational needs for RPOD and space-based SSA applications. Consolidate system requirements and derive sensing, navigation, software, and autonomy requirements. Design autonomy-system architectures covering sensors, perception, state estimation, decision functions, compute platforms, and interfaces. Develop and integrate Kalman filtering, nonlinear estimation, and multi-sensor fusion capabilities. Define interfaces between computer vision, navigation, guidance and control, simulation, hardware, and autonomy software. Build and integrate hardware-software MVPs and representative autonomy prototypes. Define end-to-end verification strategies, performance metrics, test scenarios, and acceptance criteria. Plan and execute model-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and processor-in-the-loop test activities using laboratory hardware. Maintain traceability between stakeholder needs, requirements, architecture, implementation, and verification evidence. Support data provenance, metadata, interoperability, and relevant defence-data standards. Coordinate technical interfaces with ESA, EDA, customers, partners, and subcontractors. Present architecture decisions, system performance, technical risks, and verification results during project reviews. What we are looking for A master’s degree or higher in aerospace engineering, robotics, mechatronics, computer science, control engineering, or a related discipline. Relevant experience in autonomous systems, navigation, robotics, spacecraft systems, or complex hardware-software integration. Strong understanding of space systems engineering processes.. Practical knowledge of Kalman filtering, nonlinear estimation, and sensor fusion. Fundamental knowledge of guidance, navigation, and control. Experience translating operational needs into system and subsystem requirements. Experience integrating software, sensors, compute hardware, and simulation environments. Experience defining test strategies and verifying complex system behaviour. Working knowledge of C++ or Python, with the ability to implement prototypes, analysis tools, and test software. Experience with laboratory test setups or robotic testbeds. Ability to produce clear requirements, architecture descriptions, interface definitions, test plans, and verification reports. Strong communication skills for working with multidisciplinary teams and European programme stakeholders. Desirable experience Rendezvous and proximity operations Spacecraft relative navigation and relative motion Space-based SSA or space-domain awareness ROS or ROS 2 Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or equivalent robotics simulators Real-time or embedded systems Computer vision and multi-sensor system integration Model-based systems engineering Requirements-management and traceability tools like JAMA Knowledge of interoperability standards ESA, EDA, ECSS, or defence project experience Subcontractor or technical work-package coordination