Airbus is a global pioneer in the aerospace industry, specializing in the design, manufacture, and delivery of commercial aircraft, military transports, helicopters, and space systems. As one of the world's largest aerospace companies, it employs over 130,000 people globally and operates as a cornerstone of European industrial collaboration and technological innovation. Spain plays a vital role in Airbus's global operations, hosting major production and engineering centers in Getafe, Seville, and Cádiz. The company is a major employer for international talent in Spain, offering a multicultural work environment where English is the primary language for technical and management roles, alongside comprehensive relocation support for specialized engineering positions.

Airbus was established in 1970 as a European consortium to challenge the dominance of American aerospace manufacturers. It grew through the integration of major national aerospace companies from France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, including the merger with Spain's CASA in 1999.

Airbus UpNext Spain - UAS Embedded Autonomy Lead (m/f)

Airbus Spain

Original Advert

Job Description:

Location: Getafe, Spain

Contract Duration:Limited contract linked to the deliverable of the demonstrator - estimated completion date end of December 2028, starting ASAP

Airbus UpNext is where the most advanced autonomy concepts meet the reality of flight. We are building a strategic demonstrator to prove that Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) can operate safely and intelligently alongside crewed aircraft in complex missions.

We aren't just looking for a coder; we need a Systems Architect who can bridge the gap between "cool algorithms" and "deterministic, flight-ready execution." Your mission is to transform high-level autonomy into robust, real-time embedded software that doesn't just work-it survives the rigors of flight.

Your Mission: The Architect of Autonomy

As the Embedded Autonomy Software Lead, you are the technical heartbeat of the platform. You will define the foundations that allow autonomy functions to scale across multiple UAS systems, ensuring everything remains safe, fast, and deterministic under strict hardware constraints.

What You'll Own:

Embedded Architecture & RTOS: You'll drive the design of the software architecture within partitioned RTOS environments (ARINC 653, PikeOS). You'll ensure perfect isolation and scalability across platforms.
Platform Abstraction: You'll build the "Universal Translator" (Abstraction Layer) that decouples autonomy software from specific hardware, allowing our tech to evolve independently of the aircraft it's on.
HW/SW Co-Design: You'll lead the selection of airborne computing platforms-balancing the raw power of CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs with the harsh realities of SWaP (Space, Weight, and Power).
Runtime Assurance (RTA): You'll be the guardian of safety, integrating health monitoring and fallback strategies that allow autonomous systems to react to the unforeseen.
Digital Continuity: From model-based development (Simulink) to automated CI/CD pipelines, you'll ensure the transition from "math on a screen" to "binary in the air" is seamless.
AI-Powered Workflows: You'll leverage on-premise AI agents and LLMs to supercharge development, using AI to automate testing and optimize code generation in safety-critical contexts.

Your Boarding Pass

The Embedded Expert: A heavy-hitting background in safety-critical software (RTOS, partitioned architectures, and inter-partition comms).
Avionics Fluency: Deep knowledge of software timing, determinism, and avionics buses. You understand how to deploy AI/ML within real-time constraints.
The Tools of the Trade: Proficiency in Model-Based Development, SIL/PIL/HIL verification, and MOSA/FACE-aligned open architectures.
Technical Leadership: You don't just manage; you enable. You can translate "big picture" goals into a concrete technical roadmap.
The "UpNext" Mindset: You possess a "healthy skepticism" for slow progress, an impatience for results, and the humility to work in an agile, multi-disciplinary team.

Why Join the UpNext Crew?

🚀 Edge of Tech: You'll be at the literal forefront of UAS development, working on disruptive tech that most engineers only read about in journals.
💎 Build a Legacy: Your work will create the permanent high-value assets and learning contributions that will define Airbus's autonomous future.
💡 Startup Soul, Global Muscle: Think like a startup, act like a founder, but enjoy the world-class expertise and resources of the Airbus family.
🤝 Elite Culture: Thrive in a high-achieving, experienced team that values "Care for Each Other." We are geeks, dreamers, and doers.
⚖️ Work-Life Harmony: Flexible hours, remote options, and the freedom to craft your own calendar.
☕ The Fuel: We keep the engine running with complimentary freshly ground coffee, premium beverages, and community bonding events that make UpNext more than just a job.

In our world, the technical scope evolves as fast as the project. We need someone who views "out of comfort zone" as their natural habitat. If you have a burning desire to see your software take flight, this is your mission.

Ready to lead the autonomous revolution?

About us

Founded in 2017,Airbus UpNext focuses on flying future technologies at speeds well beyond what seems feasible today. In doing so, it is actively shaping the future of the aerospace industry.

Designed as a talent incubator, Airbus UpNext is a place where you can act and think like a startup while building on the strong expertise of Airbus, a place where you are empowered to test & challenge new processes and ways of working.

Airbus UpNext's demonstrators evaluate, mature and validate potential new products and services that encompass radical technological breakthroughs. It has three flagships locations in France, Germany and Spain, to rapidly develop and test future technologies in scaled applications.

Our mission is:

To identify the trends that could disrupt the future of the aerospace industry and evaluate them to demonstrate their potential as a viable product.
To accelerate traditional research cycles and prototype development to achieve proof of concept in a real environment and at a convincing scale and speed.
To develop real-world applications for emerging aerospace technologies, thereby driving their maturity and increasing their value.
To be THE reference for Technology Value Assessment

Our Values: #Be Simple #Be Audacious #Be Open #Speed of Execution, #Caring for Each Other

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company's success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus UpNext S.L.

Employment Type:

Fixed term

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

Software Engineering

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.
Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom@airbus.com.