Flight Software Validation Engineer

Overview

Validation & Verification Engineer - Oxfordshire, UK Hybrid (2 days onsite) • Industry: Space Systems, Embedded Software, Test Engineering

A UK-based space company is hiring a Validation & Verification Engineer to join their Flight Software team. You'll be working on critical real-time embedded systems that control satellites in orbit, helping make sure the software behaves exactly as intended before it flies.

This role is focused on testing and verifying low-level flight software. If you enjoy writing test scripts, building test environments, and digging into system behaviour at a detailed level, this one's for you.

What You'll Do

• Design and run test cases for embedded flight software
• Review and validate technical specs, ICDs, and requirements
• Write automated test scripts using Python
• Help set up simulation environments to support software testing
• Work closely with system and subsystem teams to understand software needs
• Support mission-level simulations and validation campaigns
• Be part of a team ensuring reliability for hardware that's heading into space

What You'll Need

• Solid experience writing and automating software tests
• Strong Python skills (especially for testing workflows and scripting)
• Familiarity with real-time embedded systems (C/C++)
• Understanding of the software lifecycle in critical environments
• Hands-on with Git and managing software in a test or CI/CD context
• Background in aerospace, space, or similar high-reliability domains
• Experience with test setups for hardware or hybrid systems

Nice to Have

• Experience with real-time OS like VxWorks or RTEMS
• Knowledge of protocols like CCSDS, CAN, or SpaceWire
• Familiarity with ECSS standards, especially ECSS-E-ST-40C
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and versioned test environments
• Any background with NASA cFS or SPARC/PowerPC architectures
• Experience building test environments or test interfaces
• Linux admin or scripting skills (Bash, Make, etc.)

Why This Role?

• You'll test software that controls real spacecraft
• Your work will directly impact flight safety and mission success
• You'll be part of a close-knit team where quality really matters
• It's a technical, hands-on job, not just compliance or checklists
• The company is building real flight hardware, and you'll help make it fly

If you enjoy turning complex requirements into reliable, well-tested software that ends up in orbit, this is a great opportunity to put those skills to use. Get in touch.