Software Systems Engineer

Are you highly motivated with a background in software systems design and engineering? Do you have experience of working on complex engineering projects? Would you like to develop scientific systems as part of the transformative FAAM Airborne Laboratory Mid-Life Upgrade project?

The FAAM Airborne Laboratory is a world-class research facility dedicated to the advancement of atmospheric science. FAAM operates a specially adapted BAe-146 4-engine research aircraft managed by a unique team of scientists, engineers, flight technicians and project managers providing a complete package of support for the scientific community. The capabilities are extensively reliant on state of-the-art scientific instrumentation, often uniquely customised for use on the aircraft, which is deployed throughout the world.

FAAM's measurement and operational capabilities are continually evolving, and management of this modification process has to be carried out effectively, against both time and budget constraints. The exciting FAAM Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) project aims to deliver a range of upgrades and enhancements to the scientific capabilities of the aircraft, its measurement capabilities and its research impact, extending its useful life by at least 20 years.

The MLU is an ambitious 4-5 year £50m project to rebuild significant parts of the aircraft systems, and carry out a comprehensive upgrading of the aircraft’s scientific and operational capabilities. Successful delivery will require working closely with major stakeholders, including BAe Systems as aircraft Design Authority, engineering suppliers and the aircraft’s scientific user community. The entire project will comprise several hundreds of individual aircraft modifications, each of which will need to be properly developed and embodied on the aircraft.

As a Software Systems Engineer you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team at FAAM and will lead the development of automation on the aircraft. This is a strategically important area of work and will involve designing and developing innovative communications protocols and systems for remote control of scientific equipment, developing software systems for instruments and working to develop management processes for software systems management. 

Systems Engineers at FAAM will take a multi-disciplinary approach to the life-cycle management of scientific systems on the aircraft, including input into the design, realisation, technical management, operations, and retirement of systems. 

Good innovative thinking is required along with the ability to work in a complex stakeholder environment. You will be involved in high level negotiations and decision making with scientists, engineers, the aircraft’s Design Authority and other stakeholders. The aim is to produce high quality, reliable and innovative atmospheric science instruments and systems for the FAAM aircraft.

The post will be employed by the University of Leeds and will be based within the FAAM team on the campus at Cranfield University.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Stephen Devereau, Mid Life Upgrade Director, FAAM Airborne Laboratory

Email: steve.devereau@faam.ac.uk , Telephone +44 (0) 7500 973201