Job Role
The role will cover all aspects of the software life-cycle, and subject to competency and experience (less experience would indicate less coverage or less autonomy), could include any or all of the following:

• Producing software development plans, typically reflecting rigorous and disciplined development processes.
• Writing requirements specifications.
• Defining software architectures.
• Developing detailed designs.
• Implementing designs.
• Producing assurance plans – including balancing static and dynamic analysis solutions to implement cost-effective assurance regimes.
• Producing test management plans.
• Developing test environments.
• Developing and executing test specifications.
• Supporting safety engineers in the development of evidence for software safety cases.
• Contributing to technical content, for sales proposals.
• Being an active member of the Praxis software community, sharing best-practice and contributing to Praxis’ capabilities in this area.

• Leading software development teams.
• Setting technical strategies for bids and developments.

• Acting as an advocate for Praxis within the national and international software communities, by speaking at conferences, attending standards committees, etc.
• Setting technical strategy for large and complex sales proposals and/or projects.
• Providing training and mentoring to less experienced staff.

Education and training

• A first class or upper second degree in a relevant engineering discipline – or significant industrial experience.
• A further degree (eg MSc, or PhD) would not be an unusual qualification for a candidate.
• Consistent in-service training demonstrating a professional approach to maintenance of skills.
• At the very least a clearly defined route through to chartered status, and for principal staff membership of a relevant professional institution with chartered status.

Experience

• Communications, Satellite, Network Management, UML.
• Java, C++, COTS software.
• Less experienced candidates are likely to have at least five years working in a relevant discipline or industry sector – either directly within industry, or an academic or consulting environment.
• Experience in development methods is likely to have included rigorous or disciplined development processes.
• For experienced candidates are likely to have at least ten years relevant experience and are likely to be known within the critical systems arena as a recognised expert.
• Relevant sectors are civil and military aerospace, air traffic management, nuclear, mainline and underground rail.

Skills

• A sound appreciation of the underlying principles of software engineering for complex embedded systems – in particular the role of static analysis.
• A willingness to learn new tools, techniques, and languages.
• An ability to think analytically, rigorously and creatively.
• Staff are likely to be highly customer-focussed and have effective oral and written communications skills to a range of technical and commercial audiences.
• Working knowledge of one or more regulatory regimes and the national/international standards appropriate to that regime.
• An ability to carry out detailed justified work to commercial and technical requirements, and to be able to constructively criticise and assess others’ work.
• The ability and personal drive to work in teams or alone, with client and Praxis staff, both in Praxis offices and on-site in the UK and potentially overseas.
• Knowledge of industry-standard tools and techniques, and a critical appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses.
• More experienced candidates should have an understanding of the issues associated with delivery of complex systems and the ability to mentor and develop others.

Salary & Benefits