Autonomy Solution Architect

Kraken is developing a common, open and modular autonomy architecture for its uncrewed surface vessels. The architecture must support customers' demand for progressive automation levels, while preserving positive operator authority, platform safety, reuse and auditable assurance evidence.

As our Autonomy Solution Architect, you will own the end-to-end technical solution for this autonomy line of effort. You'll translate customer missions, operational design domains and product priorities into a coherent system architecture, product increments and evidence-backed releases.

Working across product leadership, systems engineering and hands-on technical delivery, you'll help shape the future of maritime autonomy across onboard software, remote operating centres, communications, simulation, payload orchestration, safety and cyber security.

This is a senior technical-leadership role. The successful candidate will set direction, chair design decisions, guide internal teams and suppliers, and remain close enough to implementation, integration and trials to ensure the complete system works in realistic maritime conditions.

Own and maintain the target and reference architecture for the Kraken Autonomy Stack, including onboard services, Remote Operating Centres, mission management, communications, simulation and payload interfaces. Define functional boundaries between architecture layers, including authority transfer, degraded modes and safe-state behaviours. Own architecture views, service contracts, APIs, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), data models, telemetry schemas and non-functional requirements. Translate the Engineering Roadmap into autonomy delivery plans, product increments, technical dependencies and measurable acceptance criteria. Lead progressive capability enhancements, ensuring solutions are operationally useful, supportable and assured. Work with Product and Commercial teams to transform mission requirements into concepts of operation, technical solutions and evidence plans. Maintain the autonomy capability map, including maturity, ownership, safety criticality and release evidence requirements. Define and govern reusable virtual integration environments. Lead verification activities across the full development lifecycle. Ensure traceability from requirements through testing, defect resolution and release recommendations.

Manage supplier integration through requirements, test harnesses, evidence packs and acceptance criteria. Provide technical leadership and mentoring across multidisciplinary engineering teams. Lead architecture reviews and present recommendations, risks and decisions to customers, partners and leadership teams. Support commissioning, integration, trials and early operational deployments. Lead technical investigations into complex cross-system autonomy issues and support continuous improvement.

Demonstrable experience architecting and delivering end-to-end autonomy, robotics, aerospace, automotive, maritime or other safety-related cyber-physical systems. Strong systems-level understanding of autonomy functions and platform safety. Proven ability to translate mission requirements into architecture, interfaces, requirements, trade studies and delivery plans. Experience defining modular software and systems architectures, APIs, data flows and deployment boundaries. Practical experience integrating and troubleshooting software, networks, sensors, actuators and physical platforms. Experience using simulation, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), test automation and field trials. Understanding of safety engineering and assurance principles for autonomous or high-integrity systems. Experience evaluating suppliers, defining acceptance criteria and leading delivery across internal and external teams. Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to a variety of stakeholders. Degree qualification, or equivalent professional experience, in Systems Engineering, Robotics, Autonomous Systems, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Control Engineering or a related discipline. Eligibility to obtain UK Security Clearance. Full UK driving licence, or the ability to travel independently to integration and trial locations. Willingness to travel within the UK and occasionally overseas.

Experience with autonomous marine systems, uncrewed vehicles or remote operating centres. Knowledge of maritime navigation and COLREG-aware behaviours. Experience with ROS 2, DDS or comparable robotics middleware. Understanding of sensor fusion and autonomy sensors including radar, EO/IR, AIS, GNSS, lidar and sonar. Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), SysML and digital engineering approaches. Knowledge of C++, Python and modern software development practices. Experience with functional safety, defence assurance, cyber security or certification frameworks. Experience developing Operational Design Domains (ODDs), concepts of operation and human-machine interaction models. Experience leading technical teams or acting as a design authority. Chartered Engineer status, INCOSE certification or progress towards professional accreditation. Existing UK Security Clearance.

You'll create clarity across complex autonomous systems, exposing interfaces, assumptions and dependencies while guiding teams towards robust technical solutions.

Success in this role requires balancing disciplined engineering assurance with the need to innovate, integrate and learn at pace. You'll work collaboratively across engineering, product, commercial and operational teams, helping Kraken deliver autonomy solutions that are safe, scalable and effective.

We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with hands-on technical leadership, taking ownership of architectural decisions while supporting successful delivery through integration and trials.

Work on some of the most exciting autonomy and uncrewed maritime technologies in the UK. Influence the technical direction of Kraken's autonomy platform. Collaborate with experts across systems engineering, software, robotics and maritime operations. Play a key role in delivering next-generation autonomous capability to defence and commercial customers. Enjoy genuine technical ownership and the opportunity to shape future products. Be part of a growing company where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.

• 25 days holiday per year
• plus paid bank holiday
• After two years' consecutive service, one additional day's annual leave up to a maximum of five additional days annual leave
• Holiday buy/sell, up to five days per calendar year
• Flexi working, core hours 10:00 to 15:00, subject to departmental requirements
• Private Medical Insurance with optional family cover
• Pension scheme with a 5% employer contribution, there is no cap on the employee contribution level
• Life assurance 3x salary
• Group Income Protection
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing mental health and wellbeing support
• Professional membership reimbursement

Due to the nature of our work many of our roles require a UK nationality and the ability to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment must meet the requirement of right to work in the UK and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to Government security checks.

Kraken Works Limited is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and offers equal opportunities to all. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.

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