Senior Algorithm Engineer

Salary: £30,000 - 52,000 per year

Requirements:

• Theoretical knowledge and extensive experience of aerospace guidance, control and navigation specification, analysis, algorithm design and implementation, real-time architecture, and verification
• Ability to bound the scope of an engineering problem and express the design challenge in terms of clear, unambiguous design requirements and objectives
• Experience managing complexity by identifying major drivers in a large, inter-connected engineering system
• Ability to cross-verify complex systems and system models against underlying theory
• Ability to communicate complex or conceptually difficult ideas clearly
• Ability to diagnose abnormalities in an engineering system both physically and virtually through computer modelling and simulation (Matlab and Simulink)
• Ability to influence technically when there are other factors driving teams
• A particular interest in applications with control experience, preferably applied flight control, though this is not essential
• Security clearance requirements may apply, including British Citizen or dual UK national with British citizenship, and successful completion of BPSS checks after offer stage

Responsibilities:

• Develop expertise at both detailed Guidance and Control design level and higher architectural levels
• Demonstrate rigorous system analysis and management of complexity
• Influence the current and future direction for design and testing of sophisticated missile Guidance and Control systems
• Work across specialist algorithms, real-time architecture, and complex equipment including RF and IR seekers, inertial sensors, actuators, propulsion, and interfaces to surface and air launch platforms
• Collaborate widely across departmental, directorate, and national boundaries
• Contribute across multiple programmes at various points in their lifecycles, from early research and concept stages through to full-scale development and guided flight trials

Technologies:

• Support
• Matlab
• Security

More:

We are a leading defence organisation and are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. This Senior Algorithm Engineer role in GCN (Guidance, Control, and Navigation) is a highly visible, strategic position within a highly capable technical team, offering hands-on technical involvement, research, and strategy steering without line management duties. The role is based in Bristol with full-time on-site working expected (5 days per week) due to workload classification. We offer a salary of up to 65,000 depending on experience, a company bonus of up to 21% of base salary, pension contributions of up to 14%, flexible working arrangements, enhanced parental leave, and fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals and free car parking. We also support employee-led networks including Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, and Neurodiversity, and we encourage candidates to speak with us about any support or adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

last updated 34 week of 2026