Senior Systems Engineer (All Genders)

About Us STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. About the team The Systems Engineering team at STARK is at the core of defining, analyzing, and validating the architecture of our flagship Virtus Loitering Munition System (VLMS) and its subcomponents. Our mission is to seamlessly bridge the gap between high-level customer requirements (such as Bw LaFos) and actionable engineering deliverables across software, hardware, and safety disciplines. You will be joining a highly agile and multidisciplinary group that works closely with subsystem owners, safety engineers, and product management to ensure total coverage of operational needs. We thrive on direct collaboration, rapid iteration, and maintaining robust traceability from Concept of Operations (ConOps) down to L3 technical requirements. Your mission As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will drive the development and maintenance of our system architecture and requirement baselines. You will coordinate with hardware and software teams to allocate subsystem requirements and technical requirements across critical elements like the airframe, Ground Control Station (GCS), and Flight Control systems. By establishing clear traceability and managing the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), you will enable STARK to deliver safe, highly reliable, and compliant defence technologies within aggressive timelines. You will work across engineering disciplines to design, test and build top-of-the-line solutions to some of the largest challenges facing the defence sector. In addition to academic and industrial experience in any technical field, candidates should also possess excellent communication skills, and an aptitude for turning complex challenges into direct, actionable solutions. Responsibilities • Define, decompose, and document system-level requirements down to subsystem and technical requirements. • Maintain and evolve system engineering artefacts for Loitering Munition Systems across various configurations. • Work closely with software and hardware teams to define interfaces, ensuring accurate allocation of requirements to system architecture elements. • Assist in generating safety documentation, such as the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), Traceability Matrices, and System Hazard Analyses in compliance with MIL-STD-882E and IEC61508. • Assist in the definition of IV&V (Integration, Verification, and Validation) processes for ground and flight testing, ensuring all customer requirements are verifiably met. • Maintain technical documentation, including test protocols, subsystem design documents, and the overall system design baseline. • Help refine our Data Models and Systems Engineering workflows to balance rapid development with rigorous documentation and traceability. Qualifications • Degree (Bachelor) in Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or a related field (or comparable practical experience). Qualifications in other technical fields will be strongly considered if they demonstrate relevant skills. • Experience managing complex requirements databases and traceability matrices (e.g., Jama Connect, DOORS). • Strong understanding of Systems Engineering V-model processes, System Breakdown Structures (SBS), and requirements decomposition. • Initial experience in system integration and working with communication protocols (e.g., CAN, DroneCAN, MAVLink, Ethernet) is an advantage. • Strong articulation skills in English (at least CEFR B2) and ideally in German. • Analytical and problem-solving skills are a must, as is a motivation and willingness to learn and grow in a dynamic, innovation-driven environment. • Experience in at least one of the following technical skillsets: 3D CAD; CFD/FEA or similar simulation techniques; Systems modelling and analysis in MATLAB/Simulink/SysML or similar. • Code development in object-oriented languages (e.g. C, Python, Java, Javascript); Flight or similar vehicle testing. Nice to have • German language proficiency (CEFR B1 or above). • Industry certifications or qualifications in Systems Engineering (e.g. from INCOSE). • Familiarity with defence or aerospace functional safety standards, particularly MIL-STD-882E or IEC61508. • Familiarity with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions, and autopilot platforms (e.g., Ardupilot, PX4, DroneCore).