
Senior/Principal Firmware Engineer/ Firmware Architect
Job Description
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.Our central Firmware team provides integral support across several of our internal business domains, providing critical strategic, requirement and delivery activities. The central Firmware capability provides opportunity to work on diverse portfolio of projects, these domains vary and can cover Aerospace/Avionics, Optronics, Intelligence, Communication and Underwater System.
We are recruiting for a Senior/Principal Firmware Engineer/Firmware Architect to join us and become a key part of a team with a proven track record for delivering firmware. This role will be responsible for Firmware across our development programmes at Belfast.
Typical Firmware services provide include:
Architecture, requirements specification, design, verification and validation.
Working in conjunction with systems, software and hardware engineers to develop electronic systems.
Projects involve using the latest industry class development tools for FPGA and SoC hardware technologies. Work is carried out to a structured firmware design process.
The role holder reports to the Firmware Capability Lead.
Key responsibilities
As a Firmware Architect you will be responsible for:
Leading firmware teams to deliver firmware projects to agreed time, cost and quality
Architect firmware designs to promote re-useable firmware development.
Verifying firmware using Hardware Verification Languages or Hardware Description languages
Designing firmware using Hardware Description Languages
Enhancement of firmware related processes (documenting, scripting, reporting, process automation)
Working closely with multi-disciplinary teams
Work package management of firmware projects
Desired knowledge, qualifications and experience
We are looking for the successful candidate to hold s relevant degree (BEng, MEng, EngD, PhD) in electronics or equivalent. Additional membership or fellowship of a professional engineering body preferably with or working towards chartered status would be advantageous and supported
Specialisation/knowledge in some of the following:
Verification Test bench architecture with System Verilog or C++
Verification Methodology: Advanced VHDL verification or OSVVM/UVVM
Requirements Management: IBM Rationale DOORS
Simulation of designs using simulator tool: Mentor Graphics Modelsim/Questasim
Digital electronic design in hardware development languages: VHDL and either Verilog or System Verilog
Implementation of complex designs using any vendor specific development tools
Object Orientated design Techniques
Image processing techniques and algorithms
Algorithm development using development tool: MatLab
Linux development environments
Security Clearance Statement
This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities.
Join the Talent Community here.
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Job Details
- Category
- Avionics
- Employment Type
- Part Time
- Location
- Belfast
- Posted
- Apr 13, 2026, 08:00 PM
- Listed
- Apr 14, 2026, 08:09 AM
About Thales Alenia Space
Part of the growing space & AI ecosystem pushing the frontiers of technology.
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