{"id":3407148,"url":"https://alion.io/job/sopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2","title":"Functional Validation Engineer - Satellite Payload Software- 6 month contract","company":{"id":52881,"name":"Sopra Steria","domain":"soprasteria.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/soprasteria","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"services","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SmartRecruiters","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":394,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.992,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":29,"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":null,"employment_type":"contractor","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Portsmouth, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":51000,"max_usd":124000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":424},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"CCSDS","optional":false},{"name":"Confluence","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"Java","optional":false},{"name":"Jira","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Verification & Validation","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-28T13:31:30Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-28","last_verified_at":"2026-11-06T04:06:04Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":8,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":8},"description":"HE Space is a successful international space company, specialised in providing managed services and human resources to the international space sector for over 40 years.\nWe hire space experts all over Europe across the whole spectrum of space-related activities, from engineering to science, software development, operations, marketing, finance and administration. Our employees contribute towards a wide range of groundbreaking space programmes including Galileo and Copernicus, ExoMars, Iris2, ESA BASS, ESA GSPT, LISA Pathfinder, Euclid, the Ariane and Vega launchers as well as the International Space Station.\nHE Space has joined forces with CS Group and Sopra Steria to lead the engineering and digital space market in Europe and to provide highly skilled consulting.\nWe are passionate about people and invest in you to support the development of the European space industry.\n Role Overview\nThe Functional Validation Engineer - Payload Software (PLSW) is responsible for validating the Payload Software on a telecoms satellite programme, which controls and manages in-flight payload mission execution for the Digital Transparent Processor. The role focuses on translating functional validation requirements into automated test procedures, executing tests across simulation and hardware environments, and supporting software verification and non-regression activities.\nEnvironment & Context\nThe role operates within the Functional Validation (FV) team, working closely with Functional Validation Architects, Technical Leads, and software development teams. Validation activities are performed using both the SATSIM numerical bench and hardware RF test benches to verify software performance against specified requirements.\nActivities\nAnalyse functional validation requirements and convert them into automated test procedures (APs) using Java;\nDevelop, maintain and execute automated test scripts and associated configuration files;\nPrepare hardware and simulation environments for test execution, including SATSIM and RF test benches;\nConfigure and operate RF equipment, including modems, signal generators, spectrum analysers and DC power supplies;\nExecute functional validation and software non-regression test campaigns against new PLSW releases;\nVerify software behaviour against defined requirements and acceptance criteria;\nProduce clear and concise test execution reports and communicate results to the FV Technical Lead and FV Architect;\nInvestigate test observations, anomalies and unexpected behaviours, performing initial analysis and fault isolation;\nRecord and manage defects, observations and validation issues using Jira and established FV processes;\nIdentify and report discrepancies between SATSIM and hardware bench results to improve simulation fidelity;\nUpload test sessions, logs and evidence into FV tooling, ensuring full traceability of validation activities;\nDevelop and maintain offline processing and automation tools using Java, Python or other appropriate technologies;\nSupport test strategy, test specification development, traceability activities and validation documentation;\nCollaborate with geographically distributed stakeholders, including teams located in Toulouse and Portsmouth;\nProactively manage dependencies, risks and blockers, escalating issues early to maintain delivery schedules.\n Essential Skills & Experience\nExperience in software verification, validation or integration testing within a complex engineering environment;\nAbility to interpret detailed validation requirements and develop robust automated test procedures;\nStrong Java development skills for automated test script creation and maintenance.\nExperience of Linux-based environments;\nExperience using source control and software lifecycle tools, including Git, SVN, Jira and Confluence;\nKnowledge of software development and validation processes, including traceability and configuration management;\nExperience of hardware and software integration testing;\nStrong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to investigate complex technical issues.\nRF & Satellite Communications Knowledge\nStrong understanding of RF principles and test equipment setup, including:RF signal generators;\nSpectrum analysers;\nModems;\nDC power supplies.\n\nExperience working with hardware RF test environments;\nKnowledge of CCSDS standards and space communications protocols, including:Telecommand (TC) and Telemetry (TM);\nPUS packets;\nTM Frames;\nTC Segments;\nCLTUs;\nCLCW.\n\nTool & Technology Skills\nEssential\nJava development;\nSoftware verification and validation;\nRF equipment configuration and operation;\nLinux;\nCCSDS standards;\nGit/SVN;\nJira/Confluence.\nDesirable\nPython development;\nMobaXterm;\nSatellite communications systems;\nAerospace or space industry experience;\nSafety-critical software validation experience;\nExperience with numerical simulation environments such as SATSIM.\nBehavioural Competencies\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills;\nAbility to work effectively with distributed teams and technical stakeholders;\nStrong attention to detail and quality focus;\nProactive approach to issue identification, dependency management and risk mitigation;\nAbility to work independently within a safety-critical and highly controlled engineering environment;\nStrong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple validation activities concurrently;\n This job is located in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.\nIf you think you have what it takes for this job, please send your CV (in English and in Word or PDF) by clicking on the button “Apply for this job” quoting job UK-HP-26176.\nAn exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!\nInclusive and committed employer, our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. That's why, committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity, we encourage all applications and profiles.\nLast apply date: 30/11/2026!","description_format":"text","description_chars":5960,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["IT Consulting & Digital Transformation","IT Outsourcing & Dedicated Teams","Systems Integrators","Custom Software Development"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-28T16:35:09Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker; Skilled Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-06T06:20:25+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":62,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.619,"p_room":1,"age_days":8,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/sopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/sopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-06T07:07:19Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":12543,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-07T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":52881},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=52881"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fsopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fsopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fsopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/sopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fsopra-steria-functional-validation-engineer-satellite-payload-software-6-month-contract-2"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3407148}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"soprasteria.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3407148},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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