Overview
STARK is a European defence technology company founded in 2023, specialising in the development and production of advanced UAV and USV systems for modern military operations. Our flagship platform, Virtus, is a next-generation VTOL loitering munition system, and we are rapidly expanding our software and autonomy capabilities to deploy Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) for maritime surveillance and security. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems-not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe today.
Minerva is STARK’s command and control software – the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Minerva team is a small, senior software group based across the UK, Germany, Greece and Ukraine working directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments. We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter – low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, and high-stakes decision loops. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain test plans, scripts, integration procedures, and safety checklists for embedded marine solutions.
- Perform hardware/software diagnostics, defect localisation, and root-cause analysis on physical prototype boats.
- Validate how pure software components interface and integrate with marine autopilots, thrusters, steering systems, and payload hardware.
- Test and verify communication interfaces and protocols (MAVLink, RS485, TCP/IP, RTSP video streaming) as part of diagnostics and system verification.
- Verify critical safety-critical fail-safe mechanisms including remote emergency shutdowns, geolocation geofencing, and offline update/recovery systems.
- Help set up, maintain, and run tests in Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test environments.
- Interact closely with software development, systems, and field flight/marine testing teams to log, track, and eliminate errors in a timely manner.
- Prepare clear testing reports, bug reports, and product stability/safety reviews in Jira and Confluence.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in hardware testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or embedded systems QA.
- Strong understanding of software testing theory (functional, integration, system, regression) combined with hands-on hardware troubleshooting.
- Experience working with embedded communication protocols (MAVLink, CAN, RS485, etc.).
- Strong knowledge of Linux systems and experience writing test scripts in Bash and/or Python.
- Familiarity with test management tools (Jira, Confluence) and version control (Git).
- Basic understanding of electronics, multimeters, and laboratory diagnostics equipment.
- Ability to write clear, structured test documentation and reports in English.
- Willingness and ability to work on physical boats during harbor/sea trials and in field-testing environments.
- Prior experience in marine robotics, maritime autopilots, USVs, UAVs, or marine electronics.
- A valid marine boating license or experience with outdoor maritime testing operations.
Benefits & Recognition
- STARK Defence UK has achieved the ERS – The Defence Employer Recognition Bronze award 2026.
Contact
Talent Contact: Sally Grutte-Pad, Interim Lead TA Partner, via talent@stark-defence.com
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