(Lead) Systems Engineer - Command and Control (Air)

Who we are

The role

The day-to-day

• Own the end-to-end systems engineering lifecycle, from concept and architecture through to operational deployment

• Define and govern system architecture, ensuring compliance with relevant military and airworthiness standards (including DO-178C and DO-254) and driving coherent interface control across all subsystems

• Lead system integration, validation, and verification activities across hardware, software, and communications domains, resolving cross-disciplinary technical conflicts

• Act as the primary technical authority in relationships with industry partners and suppliers, directing component selection and integration decisions that have direct consequences for programme success and flight safety

• Report on technical progress, risks, and key engineering milestones to the Chief Engineer and Programme Management, providing clear recommendations that enable informed programme-level decisions

You should apply if you

• Have led the technical delivery of safety-critical or mission-critical aircraft systems, military or civil, across the full systems engineering lifecycle from architecture through to certification.

• Have defined and governed complex system architectures in a leading capacity, with demonstrable experience setting technical standards and resolving cross-functional engineering trade-offs

• Communicate with precision and confidence, translating complex technical positions into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders, government customers, and industry partners

• Have guided teams, providing technical mentorship and maintaining engineering rigour under programme pressure

• Are able to work on-site at our Tussenhausen (Unterallgäu) location two to three days per week, and meet the requirements for security clearance in Germany (German citizenship is an advantage; other European citizenship is also considered)

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

• Hands-on experience with Ground Control Station design, high-integrity systems, or formal safety analysis (including DEF STAN, MIL-STD, or equivalent frameworks) in a defence or regulated aerospace environment

• Prior experience leading programmes under DO-178C, DO-254, or equivalent airworthiness standards, with direct engagement with a national airworthiness authority

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields 

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• Competitive salary and VSOP options

• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation

• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance

• Health and wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)

• Social: regular company events and monthly social allowances

• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers

• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.