• We are seeking a Principal Consultant in Programmable Elements Assurance to provide strategic technical leadership and authoritative consultancy across safety-critical aerospace, defence and other high-integrity programmes. The role will lead the assessment and assurance of software, airborne electronic hardware and other programmable-element products, working with airworthiness or equivalent regulators, clients, Design Organisations, suppliers and independent assurance bodies. The successful candidate will review complex lifecycle evidence, influence systems safety and hazard analyses, develop defensible assurance positions, and propose proportionate recommendations and courses of action that support certification, acceptance and safe operation.
  

• Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise for software and programmable-elements assurance across civil, military, and equivalent regulated programmes.
• Define and own proportionate assurance strategies, plans, assessment criteria, evidence requirements and regulatory engagement approaches for software, complex electronic hardware and associated development tools.
• Assess programmable-element products and lifecycle evidence against applicable regulations, standards, certification objectives, contractual requirements and organisational procedures.
• Lead independent reviews of software and hardware plans, standards, requirements, architecture, design, source implementation evidence, verification, configuration, quality assurance and certification or acceptance data.
• Evaluate development and verification of design assurance levels, criticality classifications and the allocation of safety requirements to programmable elements.
• Review and influence system safety assessments, safety reports, hazard analyses and assurance arguments to ensure programmable-element contributions, failure behaviours, dependencies and mitigations are adequately addressed.
• Assess evidence from FHA, PSSA, SSA, FMEA, FTA, common cause analysis, zonal or installation safety analysis and other relevant techniques, focusing on the assumptions and claims that depend upon software or electronic hardware behaviour.
• Develop clear, evidence-based assurance reports, findings, technical position papers and recommendations, including practical courses of action for resolving deficiencies or reducing certification and safety risk. Identify evidence gaps, non-compliances, process weaknesses, technical debt, tool or data risks, and limitations affecting product assurance, clearly recording their significance and required disposition.
• Provide independent technical judgement on complex, novel or incomplete evidence, documenting assumptions, limitations, residual risks, and the basis for recommendations.
• Mentor and technically lead consultants and specialists, supporting competency development, peer review, professional standards and succession planning.
• Lead technical contributions to bids, client account development, work-package definition, estimating, mobilisation and delivery governance.
• Shape SQEP methods, templates, assessment frameworks, digital tools and thought leadership for programmable-elements assurance.

Systems Safety and Hazard Assurance

• Critically review system safety plans, safety assessment reports, hazard logs and safety cases to confirm that programmable-element risks are visible, traceable, and appropriately controlled.
• Influence hazard identification, failure-condition classification, assurance-level allocation and derived safety requirements where software or electronic hardware contributes to risk.
• Challenge assumptions about software failure behaviour, independence, segregation, partitioning, monitoring, mitigation, common-mode exposure and human or operational intervention.
• Confirm consistency between safety claims, system and item requirements, architecture, verification evidence, problem reports, limitations and operational controls.
• Assess whether proposed mitigations are technically credible, verifiable, configuration controlled and sustained through change and continued operation.
• Provide recommendations that distinguish mandatory compliance actions, safety-significant improvements, programme risk reductions, and longer-term capability enhancements.

Leadership, Influence and Regulatory Engagement

• Lead through technical credibility, objective evidence, and sound professional judgement across organisational and contractual boundaries.
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior client engineering, safety, airworthiness and programme stakeholders while maintaining the independence required for credible assurance.
• Create clarity in ambiguous situations by defining decisions, evidence needs, ownership, interfaces, priorities and escalation routes.
• Make balanced recommendations that consider safety, compliance, technical feasibility, programme constraints and residual risk without compromising professional integrity.
• Develop high-performing technical teams through mentoring, constructive challenge, delegation and rigorous peer review. Represent SQEP at senior client, industry and professional forums where appropriate.

Essential

• Degree or equivalent substantial relevant experience in software engineering, safety, computer science, electronic engineering, systems engineering, aerospace engineering or another related discipline.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer, Chartered IT Professional or equivalent professional registration and membership or fellowship of a relevant institution (working to this level will be considered if not achieved already).
  

Technical Knowledge and Capability

• Strong knowledge of airborne software objectives and practices associated with standards such as RTCA DO-178C / EUROCAE ED-12C and relevant supplements, or equivalent defence and high-integrity software standards.
• Strong knowledge of airborne electronic hardware assurance associated with RTCA DO-254 / EUROCAE ED-80, or equivalent standards, where relevant to the role and assignment.
• Understanding of system development and safety assessment frameworks, including SAE ARP4754A and SAE ARP4761 or equivalent approaches, and their interfaces with programmable-element assurance.
• Ability to assess planning, development, verification, configuration management, quality assurance and certification liaison evidence across the complete lifecycle.
• Understanding of model-based development, formal methods, object-oriented technology, tool qualification, parameter data items, multicore processing and other advanced assurance considerations where applicable. Ability to evaluate independence, structural coverage, requirements-based testing, robustness, data and control coupling, problem-report management, traceability and assurance of development or verification tools.
• Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary evidence into clear, persuasive and auditable assurance positions for senior decision-makers and regulators.
  

Essential 

• Extensive experience delivering software or programmable-elements assurance within aerospace, defence or another safety-critical, regulated sector.
• Demonstrable authority in the assessment of lifecycle evidence for safety-critical software, complex electronic hardware or integrated programmable systems.
• Proven experience reviewing and influencing systems safety assessments, hazard analyses, safety reports, and assurance arguments.
• Experience working with airworthiness or equivalent regulators, certification bodies, Design Organisations, safety authorities or independent assurance organisations.
• Proven ability to author and defend high-quality assurance reports, technical positions, findings, recommendations and recovery plans.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, major work packages or technical functions and assuring the work of other experienced professionals.

Desirable

• Recognised subject matter expertise in airborne software, complex electronic hardware, systems safety, model-based development, tool qualification, formal methods or multicore assurance.
• Experience operating within or alongside an approved Design Organisation, Military Design Organisation, Type Airworthiness Authority, regulator or independent technical evaluation body.
• Knowledge of additional standards or guidance relevant to the assignment, such as IEC 61508, DEF STAN 00-055, DEF STAN 00-056, ISO 26262, EN 50128 / EN 50716, or equivalent sector-specific frameworks.

Consultancy leadership experience, including account development, bid leadership, commercial awareness and delivery governance.

Diversity & Inclusion 

SQEP Ltd lives its company values. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we will interview and consider UK military veterans, reservists and their families. Flexible support is available for mobilisation, training or deployment, injury and bereavement, together with additional leave where applicable.

Security Requirements

Security Requirements: Some projects delivered under this role involve access to information protected by specific UK Government security caveats, including UK Eyes Only or 5EYES material. Access to such information is determined solely by the relevant security authorities and contractual obligations. As a result, eligibility for certain tasks may be restricted to individuals who meet the security vetting requirements applicable to those projects.

Where these restrictions apply, the organisation must follow the formal guidance issued by the UK security authorities, which may limit access for individuals who do not meet the required nationality or clearance conditions. This does not reflect on a candidate’s skills or suitability for employment more broadly; it is a mandatory compliance requirement connected to specific customer contracts. All candidates are encouraged to apply, and suitability for particular projects will be assessed in line with the official security framework.

Eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC as a minimum; DV may be required depending on programme).

The role also requires the maintenance of valid identification documentation necessary to support security vetting, client engagement and business travel requirements.