Autonomous Systems Development Consultant

Frazer-Nash is seeking an Autonomous Systems Development Consultant to support the development, integration and assurance of autonomous and uncrewed systems. Based in the Midlands, you will work with clients and multidisciplinary teams to turn operational needs into practical, safe and credible system solutions. The role suits someone who combines strong systems thinking with hands‑on development experience. You will help shape concepts, architectures, software-enabled capabilities and evidence across the lifecycle, from early experimentation and prototyping through integration, verification and deployment support.

You may contribute across uncrewed systems, mission systems, autonomy functions, control and decision‑making, simulation, digital engineering and test environments. The exact balance will reflect your experience and client demand.

• Work with clients and end users to understand operational needs, constraints and measures of success.
• Translate needs into clear requirements, concepts of operation, system architectures and development plans.
• Support the development and integration of autonomy functions for systems, including interfaces with platforms, sensors, effectors, communications and mission systems.
• Develop, adapt or assess algorithms and software for areas such as guidance, navigation, control, planning, decision‑making, perception or human‑autonomy teaming.
• Use modelling, simulation, digital engineering, software‑in‑the‑loop and hardware‑in‑the‑loop approaches to explore performance and reduce technical risk.
• Plan and support integration, verification, validation, trials and test activities, producing clear evidence and traceability.
• Identify technical, safety, security, regulatory and programme risks, and help teams select proportionate mitigations.
• Communicate complex technical issues clearly to both specialist and non‑specialist stakeholders.
• Contribute to bids, client relationships and the growth of Frazer‑Nash capability in autonomous systems.
• Connect the right specialists across disciplines, recognising when another person is better placed to lead a particular activity.

• A degree or equivalent practical experience in aerospace, systems, software, robotics, control, electronic engineering, mathematics, physics or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience developing, integrating, testing or assuring complex software‑enabled or autonomous systems.
• A structured approach to systems engineering, requirements, interfaces, configuration, verification and technical decision‑making.
• Experience using modelling, simulation, prototyping or test environments to understand system behaviour and performance.
• Ability to write clear technical material and present conclusions, options and recommendations with confidence.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and engage effectively with clients.

• Uncrewed systems, remotely piloted aircraft, advanced air mobility or mission autonomy.
• Guidance, navigation and control; path or mission planning; optimisation; sensor fusion; perception; artificial intelligence or machine learning.
• Software development using languages or environments such as C/C++, Python, MATLAB or Simulink.
• Robotics or autonomy frameworks, simulation platforms, digital twins, SIL or HIL testing.
• Real‑time, low‑latency messaging frameworks (such as DDS/ROS
  2) as well as cloud telemetry and IoT communication protocols (such as MQTT).
• Safety‑critical development, safety cases, cyber security, airworthiness, certification or relevant standards and regulation.
• Systems modelling and architecture methods, including MBSE and tools such as SysML.
• Planning or supporting trials, flight test, experimentation or operational evaluation.
• Consu…