Assurance Engineer

Location: Stoke Gifford

Assurance Engineer

The Role:

We are looking for a Senior or Principal Assurance Engineer to join the technology team  technology team specialises in applying AI to solve challenges within complex systems, with expertise spanning object detection, neural network resilience, AI assurance, and the development of synthetic data. Through bespoke research and development programmes the team delivers high-grade AI systems and services for high-stakes environments.

This role is about helping our customers design, justify and operate AI. You will produce defensible technical outputs, challenge weak assumptions and connect assurance evidence to real decisions about system design, deployment and operation. You will lead technically demanding client work, either working hands-on yourself or directing a project team.

This is not primarily a governance, risk and compliance role. Nor are we looking for someone who treats compliance with standards as the end goal. Established standards and techniques will often guide the work. However, you must understand their purpose, limitations, and relevance to the system under consideration, particularly when working in situations where standards, processes, or accepted approaches have not yet been defined.

Direct experience of AI assurance is desirable but not essential. We are looking for a broad range of assurance backgrounds, not just people who already work in AI assurance. You should have some exposure to AI or machine-learning systems or be able to demonstrate that you can learn unfamiliar technologies quickly and engage credibly with specialists.

Key

Experience:

We are primarily interested in demonstrated experience, technical judgement and the quality of your thinking. You should have strong experience in at least one area relevant to the assurance or design of high-stakes systems. This might include:

Safety engineering and safety cases
Assurance cases and argument-based assurance
High-integrity or safety-critical software
AI verification, validation, testing or evaluation
System safety and hazard analysis
Software or system architecture
Human factors and human-machine teaming
Cybersecurity and resilience
Quantitative risk, reliability or formal methods
Operational monitoring and change assurance
Clinical safety or healthcare technology assurance
Another professional field involving difficult technical decisions with significant consequences
We welcome candidates from a wide range of sectors including but not limited to defence, space, healthcare, nuclear or critical national infrastructure, but it is not essential. We also welcome transferable experience from aviation, automotive, rail, industrial automation and other high-integrity sectors.

Day-to-Day tasking can include:

Leading the technical delivery of assurance work for clients

Developing assurance strategies and plans
Structuring claims, arguments and supporting evidence
Developing AI test and evaluation strategies
Defining system requirements and design recommendations
Developing operational monitoring and change-assurance approaches
Reviewing and challenging evidence produced by clients or suppliers
Producing reports that support senior technical and operational decisions

Working with clients as a technical stakeholder

Sharing and defending a proposed technical approach
Leading technical discussions and contributing to workshops
Challenging client or supplier assumptions constructively
Building relationships while maintaining an independent technical position

Supporting and developing the wider team, including both mentoring and supporting more junior engineers
Develop partnerships with universities, research organisations, and industry collaborators to advance R&D opportunities and drive innovation
Benefits:

Annual Company Bonus – Based on company performance
25 Days holiday not including bank holidays with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days
Flexible hybrid working arrangements
Continuous professional development including incentives
Access to online Udemy training facility to support grade specific learning pathways
Electric car scheme
Bike to work scheme
Private health care

About Us:

Synoptix was formed in 2011 to provide engineering…