Principal Software Architect

About the role

This is not a standard engineering role; it is a high-impact leadership position at the intersection of hardware, software, and human factors. As Principal Software Architect, you will align world-class architects across C2, Perception, and Autonomy workstreams, unifying them under a general architectural vision and providing Systems Engineering rigor to ensure our unified architecture meets complex customer requirements.

What you'll do

• Be the senior interface between Software Group and Hardware Programme engineering leadership to formulate and breakdown Software requirements, guiding stakeholders towards common cross-platform solutions
• Proactively identify, derisk and resolve conflicts between hardware limitations and software ambitions
• Synthesize sometimes conflicting requirements into consensus that serves the mission, managing strong opinions with emotional intelligence and technical authority
• Ensure our system architecture drives our organizational structure, spot communication gaps between teams and design interventions that force collaboration
• Champion the adoption of Modern C++ Safety Guidelines (MISRA), mentoring teams on why safety matters
• Own the strategy for technical compliance, guide implementation of NATO standards while cutting bureaucratic overhead
• Define and govern the interfaces that bind our hardware platforms to the ground station
• Run Design Reviews that empower leads to make decisions while ensuring alignment with broader system vision

What you'll need

• 10+ years of experience, with significant time spent in "Principal" or "Staff" roles where your primary output was decisions, documents, and diagrams
• High EQ leadership skills - ability to read the room, know when to push standards and when to compromise for speed
• Systems engineering approach to challenges, with experience breaking down complex technical challenges across domains
• Background in Aerospace, Defense, Robotics or complex Hardware/Software systems
• Proven experience acting as an architect across multiple engineering teams
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of data flows from drone sensors over constrained radio links to ground stations
• Must be eligible to obtain appropriate security clearance