Validation & Verification Engineer
Oxfordshire, UK | Hybrid (2 days onsite)
Industry: Space Systems, Embedded Software, Test Engineering
A UK-based space company is hiring a Validation & Verification Engineer to join their Flight Software team. You’ll be working on critical real-time embedded systems that control satellites in orbit, helping make sure the software behaves exactly as intended before it flies.
This role is focused on testing and verifying low-level flight software. If you enjoy writing test scripts, building test environments, and digging into system behaviour at a detailed level, this one’s for you.
What You’ll Do
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Design and run test cases for embedded flight software
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Review and validate technical specs, ICDs, and requirements
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Write automated test scripts using Python
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Help set up simulation environments to support software testing
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Work closely with system and subsystem teams to understand software needs
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Support mission-level simulations and validation campaigns
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Be part of a team ensuring reliability for hardware that’s heading into space
✅ What You’ll Need
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Solid experience writing and automating software tests
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Strong Python skills (especially for testing workflows and scripting)
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Familiarity with real-time embedded systems (C/C++)
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Understanding of the software lifecycle in critical environments
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Hands-on with Git and managing software in a test or CI/CD context
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Background in aerospace, space, or similar high-reliability domains
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Experience with test setups for hardware or hybrid systems
⭐ Nice to Have
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Experience with real-time OS like VxWorks or RTEMS
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Knowledge of protocols like CCSDS, CAN, or SpaceWire
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Familiarity with ECSS standards, especially ECSS-E-ST-40C
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Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and versioned test environments
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Any background with NASA cFS or SPARC/PowerPC architectures
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Experience building test environments or test interfaces
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Linux admin or scripting skills (Bash, Make, etc.)
Why This Role?
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You’ll test software that controls real spacecraft
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Your work will directly impact flight safety and mission success
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You’ll be part of a close-knit team where quality really matters
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It’s a technical, hands-on job, not just compliance or checklists
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The company is building real flight hardware, and you’ll help make it fly
If you enjoy turning complex requirements into reliable, well-tested software that ends up in orbit, this is a great opportunity to put those skills to use. Get in touch.
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Adam Slade