Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Lead Robotics Software and Systems Engineer

University of Oxford
Oxfordshire
1 day ago
Create job alert

Oxford Robotics Institute, Central Oxford The Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) — part of the Department of Engineering Science — is seeking a Robotics Software and Systems Engineer to join our world-class team. A recent recipient of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for innovation in autonomous robotic technologies, ORI is a vibrant, multidisciplinary community of researchers, engineers, and students united by a shared mission: to push the boundaries of what robots can achieve. Our work spans diverse domains — from flying and grasping to driving and exploring — and we are the only group in the UK specialising in large-scale mobile autonomy, both indoors and outdoors. We validate our ideas by deploying real robotic systems in challenging, real-world environments. As the successful candidate, you will co-lead a diverse engineering team responsible for designing, building, programming, testing, and maintaining a large fleet of robotic and autonomous systems. These include mobile and walking robots, manipulators, drones, and soft robotic systems, with applications across sectors such as energy, urban mobility, healthcare, space exploration, and nuclear inspection. You will have a degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline, and possess substantial post-qualification experience in a research or R&D environment. You will bring a strong background in C++, Python, ROS, web development, and data management, and be confident working both independently and collaboratively across multiple projects. The scope of this role covers the entire concept-to-deployment lifecycle. You will work closely with ORI academics, researchers, and the Lead Hardware Engineer on projects such as: ● Developing quadruped robots that autonomously navigate obstacles, scan forests, and map tunnels.
● Deploying bespoke scanning and sensing systems.
● Adapting robots to meet specific research and application goals. You will also represent ORI in collaborations with industrial and academic partners, acting as a key point of technical contact. Join us and contribute to cutting-edge robotics research that makes a real-world impact. For more information about the ORI, please see: ori.ox.ac.uk

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Mechatronics Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

Software Engineer

Sales Development Representative (SDR)

Theatre Team Leader - Urology and Robotics Surgery

Clincal Sales Associate

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Space Industry Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK space‑sector hiring has shifted from pedigree‑first screening to capability‑driven evaluation across the full stack—spacecraft systems, payload/RF, flight software, GNC/ADCS, propulsion, structures/thermal, AIT (assembly–integration–test), mission/ground operations, reliability/radiation, and compliance (ECSS, export control). Employers want proof you can build, test, operate and scale space systems safely and economically. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for satellite/spacecraft engineers, payload & RF/MM‑wave, flight & ground software, GNC/ADCS, power/thermal, AIT/test, mission ops, data/EO, and space product/TPM roles. Who this is for: Systems engineers, payload/RF engineers, flight software & FDIR, GNC/ADCS, power/thermal/structures, propulsion, AIT/test, reliability/radiation, QA/compliance, ground segment/cloud, mission operations, EO/data processing, and product/programme managers targeting roles in the UK space ecosystem.

Why Space Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

The UK’s space sector is growing fast — from satellite systems and Earth observation to satellite communications, space robotics, propulsion, space data analytics, and mission operations. But the nature of space work is changing. Projects involving satellites, launch systems, space robotics and ground infrastructure are now embedded in regulation, public perception, human interaction and cross-disciplinary design. Space careers in the UK used to be dominated by engineers, astrophysicists, systems analysts and telemetry experts. Today, they increasingly demand fluency not only in aerospace, software, electronics & data, but also in law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design. After all, space systems operate under treaties, privacy constraints, public scrutiny, international collaborations and human interfaces. In this article, we explore why space careers in the UK are becoming more multidisciplinary, how those allied fields intersect with space work, and what job-seekers & employers must do to thrive in this evolving cosmos.

UK Space Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern Space Department

The UK space sector is rapidly expanding. With growth in satellite design, Earth observation, communications, launch systems, space science, downstream applications, and regulatory and operational services, there’s rising demand for skilled professionals across many disciplines. Building a high-impact space organisation requires well-defined team structures, clear roles, strong collaboration, and alignment across engineering, science, operations, regulation, and commercial functions. If you are applying for roles via UKSpaceJobs.co.uk or hiring into your company, this guide will help you understand the principal roles you’ll find in a space team, how they interact during mission lifecycles, what skills UK employers expect, salary norms, common challenges, and best practice for structuring space teams that succeed.