Principal Engineer
THE ROLE
We are looking for a Principal Engineer based in Germany, to strengthen Critical Software's presence in the Aerospace, Space & Defense (ASD) market.
This is a role for someone who has spent 10+ years deep in safety-critical engineering and is ready to bring that expertise directly in front of clients.
Think technical authority combined with the ability to identify opportunities, shape solutions, and win trust from day one.
You won't just deliver technical work; you'll be the face of our safety-critical expertise to the client, spotting problems before they become issues and positioning Critical Software as the partner of choice.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Act as the technical anchor and trusted point of contact for clients in the ASD domain, building and sustaining long-term relationships with key stakeholders
- Identify, diagnose, and help resolve technical and process challenges on client programmes, bringing deep safety-critical engineering expertise to the table
- Support the growth of Critical Software's footprint in the German market, working closely with local sales and account teams to spot and shape new opportunities
- Translate technical strengths into client value, helping position Critical Software's safety-critical capabilities in a way that is credible and compelling to technical and business stakeholders alike
- Mentor and provide technical direction to project teams, ensuring engineering excellence and consistency with safety-critical standards and best practices
- Represent Critical Software in client meetings, technical workshops, and industry forums across the ASD sector
- Contribute to proposals and technical bids, ensuring solutions are grounded in real engineering credibility
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 10+ years of experience in safety-critical software/systems engineering, with strong technical depth in the domain
- Background in Aerospace, Space, or Defense; candidates with strong safety-critical experience in Automotive or Railway are also welcome, provided those fundamentals are transferable to this domain.
- Proven track record as a technical expert who has evolved into a client-facing role, comfortable being the technical authority in front of a customer, not just behind a desk
- A confident, consultative communication style: able to identify a client's problem, propose a path forward, and sell that solution with conviction, without being pushy or hesitant
- Strong ownership mindset and the resilience to operate in front of clients under pressure
- Fluency in German and English (C1 or C2 level)
- Based in Germany, with willingness to travel as required by client engagements
HOW YOU CAN INSPIRE
- You adapt fast and turn sharp, critical thinking into good decisions for the project
- You are genuinely curious and challenge what needs to change and make bold calls
- You see AI as the biggest shift of this generation and you want to be part of shaping it
- When there is no map, you start drawing one rather than waiting for someone else to
WHAT WE OFFER
We invest in the people who make it all possible. Here's what that looks like in practice.
- Private health insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme (mental health, legal, financial support)
- Home office support
- Extra holidays: 2 additional days after year one, more as time goes on
- Extra parental leave: 2 additional months fully paid
- Gradual return-to-work support: We’ll help you ease back from long breaks
- Sabbatical programme for long-term employees
- Training, mentorship, and growth opportunities: we'll invest in where you want to go next
ABOUT CRITICAL SOFTWARE
Every day we work on missions across industries as diverse as aerospace, space, defence, transport, telecoms, government, energy, finance, and healthcare. Building better and safer isn’t a slogan. It’s how we show up in the world.
Critical Software is a proud Benefit Corporation: a for-profit business legally committed to positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment - in addition to profit.
We are an equal opportunity workplace. If you need any adjustment in your recruitment process to show us what you can do, please let us know.
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About the Company
Building a better world is not a job for one person.
It takes a village to reach higher and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Together, we find solutions to the most complex problems.
We need people who invent, who spark ideas, and who dare to achieve great things. People who look ahead and challenge the status quo. People who grab the chance to drive change. Who ask questions. Who take nothing for granted. Who are hungry to innovate — and to make the best, better.