Firmware architect

Firmware Architect

Location: Bristol, United Kingdom

Location: Crawley, Reading, or Bristol – Hybrid

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust.

About the Role

Thales Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) UK is a principal supplier of UAS, EW, and radar equipment to the UK armed forces. We are recruiting for a Firmware Architect as part of a sustained expansion of the ISR team due to key programme awards in Electronic Warfare. The role requires demonstrable experience of firmware within safety‑critical environments; defence experience is advantageous but not essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead firmware development and deliver firmware projects to agreed time, cost, and quality.
• Verify firmware using Hardware Verification Languages or Hardware Description languages.
• Design firmware using Hardware Description Languages.
• Enhance firmware‑related processes (documenting, scripting, reporting, process automation).
• Work closely with multi‑disciplinary teams.

Desired Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience

Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with a relevant degree (BEng, MEng, EngD, PhD) and membership or fellowship of a professional engineering body, preferably with or working towards chartered status.

• Experience leading firmware design/architecture.
• Verification test bench architecture with System Verilog or C++.
• Verification methodology: Advanced VHDL verification or OSVVM/UVVM.
• Requirements management: IBM Rational DOORS.
• Simulation of designs using Mentor Graphics Modelsim / Questasim.
• Digital electronic design in hardware development languages: VHDL and either Verilog or System Verilog.
• Implementation of complex designs using vendor‑specific development tools.
• Technologies: PCIe, Ethernet, serial communications, AXI4.
• Object‑oriented design techniques.
• Image processing techniques and algorithms.
• Algorithm development using MATLAB.

Security Clearance

This role requires SC clearance. If you do not currently hold it, you must undergo, achieve, and maintain SC clearance.

Benefits and Career Development

We offer market‑leading training, development, and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by experts. Packages include a significant bonus, a strong pension contribution, private healthcare, development‑focused targets, relocation support (if required), and learning and career enhancement opportunities. Additional benefits include private medical insurance, cycle‑to‑work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, an annual bonus, and more depending on the role.

Future opportunities will allow you to discover other domains or sites, build your talents in other areas of the Thales Group, choose between a technical expertise or leadership path, and build an international career within a leading engineering group.

Equal Opportunities

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay, and working conditions for all.