SAIF Autonomy is building the Trust Layer for Physical AI and Autonomous Systems. The next generation of safety-tech that will unlock the true benefits of AI, for humanity. Location: Witney, Oxfordshire, UK (3 days a week in office) Compensation: DoE Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time Department: Engineering Reporting To: CTO Our Working Culture SAIF is a fast-growing start-up with ambitious goals and our culture reflects that. We’re building something meaningful and we’re looking for people who are genuinely energised by that journey. You’ll thrive here if you enjoy taking ownership, wearing multiple hats, learning quickly and are comfortable working beyond core hours when the work demands it - not because it’s expected day-to-day, but because seeing progress matters. Our team is driven by the satisfaction of building, solving hard problems and moving fast together, embracing collaboration and change as part of start-up life. We’re looking for people who want to be part of something being built from the ground up, who enjoy the momentum and responsibility that comes with it and who bring commitment, curiosity and teamwork to everything they do. The Role SAIF Autonomy is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team building cutting-edge assurance systems for AI and robotics applications, with an initial focus on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). You will play a critical role in developing SAIF’s solutions, guiding overall system architecture, software design and managing the engineering lifecycle. SAIF Autonomy offers a competitive compensation package, excellent benefits and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies that shape the future of AI and robotics safety. Responsibilities Work on the design and development of system architectures for SAIF’s solutions, with a particular emphasis on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) applications. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including embedded software engineers, safety engineers and ML engineers, to ensure integration of various software components into a cohesive system. Conduct thorough system-level analysis, trade-off studies and risk assessments to ensure the system architecture meets safety, performance, and regulatory requirements. Define and maintain system-level requirements, interfaces and specifications, ensuring adherence to industry standards and best practices. Oversee the implementation, integration and verification of system components, ensuring compliance with the overall system architecture and design principles. Manage the systems engineering lifecycle from planning, through reviews, implementation, V&V and customer acceptance. Contribute to the continuous improvement of the team's systems engineering processes, tooling and methodologies. Key Skills and Experience Bachelor's, Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, with a focus on systems engineering and architecture. Experience in systems architecture and design and in delivering complex, safety-critical systems, preferably in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) domain. Knowledge of systems engineering methodologies, tools and best practices, such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML. An understanding of software and hardware architecture principles, real-time systems and embedded systems design. Experience with safety-critical system development standards and certification processes (e.g., DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A, ARP4761). Understanding / experience of JARUS SORA and / or UK SORA. Familiarity with UAS regulations, standards and operational requirements (e.g., FAA, EASA, ICAO). Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams. About SAIF Autonomy Our software enables assured, trustworthy deployment of both traditional deterministic autonomy and AI or novel control methods, in any application, for the first time. We do this with no need for data or communications links and we begin the journey by applying our tech to autonomous systems in the aerospace and land domains. SAIF’s products are future-focused, compliance-ready & built for safety-critical environments. Vision To be global leaders in novel control assurance, pioneering trusted and ethical autonomy for humanity. Purpose To set global industry standards and enable complex autonomous systems to operate safely and predictably, with optimum performance and efficiency. Bringing inherent trust and safety to all autonomous systems. Our Values Be Safe - We exist to make autonomous systems as safe as possible, so we must maintain the highest standards of safety and security as a company. (Also, it would have been a missed opportunity if we didn’t have this as a value!) Be Curious - We are working at the cutting edge of safety engineering, AI and robotics. We are developing solutions to some of the most challenging problems in industry and need to be continually exploring the art of the possible, dreaming, prototyping and testing. Be Committed - We are a start-up with ambitious goals for growth and solving hard problems. It will not be an easy journey, but it will be one worth doing. It will require commitment from everyone - late nights, weekends, the usual ‘start-up’ life. However, as a company, SAIF are committed to creating an environment where everyone can grow, develop and take on this challenge in a supportive and constructive environment.