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. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Embedded Systems & Integration Engineer - UAS
Reading, Bristol, Crawley ideally, but flexible on location
Thales Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) UK is a principal supplier of Electronic Warfare (EW), Radar and Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) equipment to the UK armed forces, as well as an exporter of these capabilities worldwide.
We’re recruiting for an experienced Embedded Systems / Software Integration Engineer to develop and integrate software for an edge-computing system based around NVIDIA Jetson.
The role will involve integrating a range of hardware and software components into an existing system, including digital cameras, IMUs, GNSS, SSD storage and other peripheral devices. Responsible for ensuring that these devices operate reliably with the Jetson platform and that their data is correctly delivered into existing C++ processing and algorithm software.
A significant element of the role will be the integration of new and alternative hardware into an existing system. This may include, for example, moving an existing Jetson application onto a new carrier board, integrating different cameras or sensors, adapting interfaces and drivers, and reconfiguring the software and operating system to accommodate changes in the underlying hardware, developing software interface specifications
The role therefore requires someone who is comfortable working across the boundary between hardware and software, rather than someone focused solely on application-level software development.
There will be travel involved so the successful individual should be prepared to travel to Ukraine (all training and briefings will be provided)
Key Responsibilities
Jetson / Embedded Linux
- Develop, configure and maintain software running on NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano platforms.
- Work extensively with Ubuntu Linux in an embedded environment.
- Manage system resources including:
- Diagnose and resolve hardware/software integration problems.
- Configure boot, system services, device configuration and application start-up.
Hardware and Peripheral Integration
- Integrate and configure hardware peripherals including, but not limited to:
Carrier Board Integration
- A key responsibility will be adapting the software platform to accommodate changes to the underlying hardware.
- For example:
- Integrating a new Jetson carrier board
- Identifying differences in peripheral interfaces and hardware configuration.
- For example:
Key skills and experience required
The successful candidate should be comfortable working from hardware documentation, schematics, interface specifications and manufacturer documentation rather than relying solely on pre-existing software abstractions.
C++ Algorithm Integration
- Integrate sensor and peripheral outputs into existing C++ algorithms and processing pipelines.
- Develop interfaces between hardware acquisition software and existing application/algorithm code.
NVIDIA CUDA / GPU
- Develop, integrate and optimise software using NVIDIA CUDA where appropriate.
- Understand the Jetson GPU architecture and its implications for application performance.
Cyber Security
- Apply appropriate cyber-security principles to embedded Linux systems.
- Configure systems securely and minimise unnecessary services and interfaces.
System Integration and Verification
- Develop integration and diagnostic tools as required.
- Create appropriate test procedures for hardware/software integration.
- Test new hardware components against the existing system.
Security Clearance statement
Due the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole British National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.
Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance- United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
Your Career at Thales UK
Future opportunities will allow you to discover other domains or sites. You will be able to evolve and grow your Competencies in different areas:
- Room and attention to personal development
- Build your talents in another domain of Thales Group, discovering new products, new customers, new country or go to a more complex Solution
- Choose between a technical expertise or a leadership path
- Build an international career within a leading Engineering Group
What we can offer
We are committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.
Our packages will include bonus, a strong pension contribution, private healthcare, development focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities. Further support can be provided towards academic and membership attainments.
#LI-CL1
At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!
Skills Required
- Experience developing and integrating embedded software and hardware/software systems
- Experience working with NVIDIA Jetson platforms and embedded Ubuntu Linux
- C++ integration experience with algorithms and processing pipelines
- Experience integrating digital cameras, IMUs, GNSS, SSD storage, carrier boards, interfaces, and drivers
- Knowledge of NVIDIA CUDA and Jetson GPU architecture
- Ability to work from hardware documentation, schematics, interface specifications, and manufacturer documentation
- Experience diagnosing hardware/software integration issues and developing integration tests or diagnostic tools
- Ability to apply cybersecurity principles to embedded Linux systems
- Must be a sole British National
- Must achieve and maintain UK Security Clearance at SC level before starting employment
- Preparedness to travel to Ukraine
Thales Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Thales and has not been reviewed or approved by Thales.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement plans with employer contributions and matches, profit sharing, and share purchase opportunities are emphasized across multiple regions. These elements are positioned as competitive components of total rewards.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO that increases with tenure, paid holidays, and paid military, maternity, and paternity leave are described. This breadth supports work–life balance across locations.
-
Flexible Benefits — Hybrid work options, flexible schedules, and parental supports such as childcare benefits and leave for sick children are available in several markets. Flexibility is presented as a core part of the employee experience.
Thales Insights
What We Do
Thales is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers – businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.
