Senior Embedded Software Engineer - Bristol - Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd

Description

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.

We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What to Expect

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer (BMS) at Vertical Aerospace, you will lead the development, validation, verification, and certification of advanced Battery Management System (BMS) software for our pioneering eVTOL aircraft.

You'll work within a collaborative, safety-critical engineering environment, contributing deep technical expertise in embedded systems and supporting the delivery of reliable, high-integrity software aligned with aerospace standards.

What You'll Do

• Develop low-level software functions and drivers for embedded platforms.
• Create and execute unit tests for low-level verification activities.
• Validate and verify safety-critical software components.
• Review software implementations and documentation in line with defined requirements, specifications, and certification standards.
• Develop and maintain requirements, designs, documentation, and traceability throughout the software lifecycle.
• Produce both high- and low-level software specifications.
• Conduct hands-on testing and debugging at the hardware interface level when needed.
• Develop software in compliance with DO-178C standards.
• Follow and improve internal software development standards and participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support aircraft-level integration and validation activities, collaborating closely with hardware engineers and multidisciplinary teams.
• Participate in technical design reviews with internal and external stakeholders.
• Track deliverables and milestones, assessing progress and outcomes effectively.
• Provide input into software planning processes, supporting alignment with project objectives.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, or Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• At least 7 years' experience in embedded C software development for safety-critical systems.
• Proven experience with Texas Instruments TMS microcontrollers.
• Experience developing and deploying CAN communication systems.
• Strong understanding of MISRA C standards, processes, and compliance.
• Knowledge of software development methodologies, toolchains, and processes.
• Experience with ARM embedded microcontrollers.
• Experience with aerospace certification programs.
• Experience in bare-metal operating system development.
• Proficiency in communication protocols such as CAN, Ethernet, SPI, and I²C.
• Experience in low-level driver development.
• Working knowledge of Agile or Scrum methodologies, and familiarity with tools such as Atlassian Jira, Bitbucket, or other configuration management software.
• Experience with requirements management tools.
• Understanding of functional safety and certification frameworks, including:
  • DO-178, DO-254, ARP 4754, ARP 4761
  • IEC 61508 SIL-3 or equivalent standards
• Fluent in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills.

What can you expect from us?

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our benefits

Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits
• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service ()
• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance
• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee
• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it
• Breakfast on us, every day

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.