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Helsing is a defence AI company building the software-defined intelligence layer for one of Europe's most advanced combat aircraft (CA-1 programme). As Senior Systems Engineer specialising in Product Security, Cryptography and Cyber, you will define and govern the security architecture of the entire platform—from hardware and software design requirements through to compliance artefacts satisfying national and NATO authority expectations.
This is a hands-on technical role, not confined to policy. You will develop the aircraft security concept from first principles, own the design of intra- and inter-vehicle communication security, and lead the platform-level cryptographic management approach, including erase and zeroise functions. You will engage directly with customers in requirements workshops, technical reviews, and solution showcases, and work with German national security authorities. Professional fluency in German is an operational necessity.
Key responsibilities include:
- Guide hardware and software design teams through security requirements specification and architectural decisions, ensuring compliance with national and NATO-level security regulations
- Develop and own the aircraft-level security concept as the authoritative reference across the programme
- Define and implement engineering design processes for product security, establishing repeatable, auditable workflows
- Create and maintain compliance artefacts required by national and NATO security authorities
- Design security architecture for intra- and inter-vehicle communications (on-board and off-board interfaces)
- Develop design concepts for aircraft-level security functions including erase and zeroise under all mission conditions
- Conduct vulnerability analysis and adversarial testing, translating findings into actionable engineering mitigations
- Define platform cryptographic management concept, including crypto key management architecture and lifecycle processes
- Engage directly with defence customers (Bundeswehr and other national authorities) to capture requirements and represent Helsing's security engineering capability
Requirements:
- Designed and delivered end-to-end security architectures for military or defence-grade systems, spanning requirements, system design and compliance evidence
- Understand and can apply NATO security standards and national-level regulations (STANAGs, German national security frameworks) to engineering programmes
- Developed cryptographic management concepts for complex platforms, including crypto key management design and lifecycle governance
- Conducted structured vulnerability analysis and adversarial threat assessments on safety- or mission-critical networked systems
- Defined communication security designs for intra- and inter-platform data exchange in defence or government context
- Professional fluency in German, with ability to engage with national security authorities, regulators and customers in technical and formal settings
Nice to have:
- Familiarity with IFF systems and their security/certification requirements
- Experience designing erase and zeroise functions at aircraft or platform level
- Background in airborne mission systems or avionics security (DO-326A / ED-202A)
- Exposure to Common Criteria evaluation processes or equivalent assurance frameworks
- Experience supporting security authority interactions as a named security engineering lead
