Systems Architect

Who we are

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards. 

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously. 

We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications. 

The role

As the System Architect for Electronic Warfare, you will direct the end-to-end electronic warfare architecture for our airborne platforms, defining the threat-driven capability roadmap, system partitioning, and overall integration strategy. You will translate operational scenarios into verifiable system requirements and architect the complete sensor-to-effector kill chain, including the complex multi-sensor fusion between RF and EO/IR systems. This strategic role involves guiding digital engineering and performance modelling efforts, defining the master test and evaluation strategy, and managing critical technical trade-offs collaboratively with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure mission success in contested environments.

The day-to-day

• Own the end-to-end EW architecture for an airborne platform: threat-driven capability roadmap, system partitioning, interfaces, and integration strategy across sensors.

• Translate operational scenarios into EW requirements and measurable KPIs.

• Define the EW CONOPS and behavior.

• Establish the sensor-to-effector kill chain: detection → classification/ID → geo-location → threat evaluation → technique selection → execution → assessment, including timing budgets and data products.

• Lead multi-sensor fusion architecture (RWR/ESM + radar + EO/IR + navigation).

• Architect threat library / mission data concepts.

• Establish system safety and assurance for autonomous EW actions.

• Lead digital engineering for EW performance modeling.

• Define the test and evaluation strategy.

• Coordinate cross-functional design decisions with airframe, avionics, comms, mission computing, and suppliers; manage technical trade-offs.

• Own key interfaces/ICDs.

• Manage supplier technical governance.

You should apply if you

• Hold a relevant degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.

• Have experience in EW / mission systems architecture for airborne platforms with end-to-end ownership.

• Can convert threat-driven scenarios into EW requirements + KPIs (timing budgets, coverage, sensitivity/geo-location performance, response latency, survivability metrics).

• Have designed or led an operational EW CONOPS and autonomous behavior.

• Understand the sensor-to-effector chain and technique selection logic including real-time constraints.

• Have strong multi-sensor fusion experience (ESM/RWR + radar + EO/IR + nav), including track correlation and confidence management.

• Have owned threat library / mission data architecture (data model, validation, versioning, update pipeline, integration into onboard logic).

• Can lead safety, assurance, and cyber/COMSEC considerations for autonomous EW actions in a regulated environment.

• Have defined test & evaluation strategies and verification matrices for EW capabilities across HIL, range, and flight testing.

• Are comfortable driving cross-functional and supplier governance: ICDs, architecture reviews, trade studies, and issue closure with objective evidence.

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields 

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• Competitive salary and VSOP options

• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation

• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance

• Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)

• Social: regularly company events and monthly social allowances

• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers.

• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

  Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.