Control & Algorithms Engineer - Electro-Optical Systems

Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Control & Algorithms Engineer

Glasgow – Hybrid

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

About The Team

Thales is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced products for the global defence, aerospace, and security markets. At Thales Glasgow, we specialise in Electro-Optical (EO) systems, including Thermal Imagers, Laser Rangefinders & Designators, Vehicle Sighting Systems, and Submarine Periscopes & Optronics Masts.

Line-of-sight stabilisation and servo control systems are fundamental to our optronics performance. As we advance target detection and stabilisation capabilities, we require skilled control engineers to develop robust, high-precision solutions.

As a Control Engineer, you will be involved in all aspects of control systems engineering, including:

• Design and optimise control systems for gimbals, stabilised platforms, and optronic masts, ensuring stability, accuracy, and real-time performance.
• Understanding of the fundamentals of control system components, such as motors, gyros, inertial measurement units.
• Model, simulate, and validate control strategies using industry-standard tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C/C++), transitioning designs into embedded hardware for deployment.

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• Collaborate with systems, hardware and software teams to integrate control solutions, ensuring seamless operation within broader system architectures.
• Support testing, verification, and continuous improvement of control systems through lab and field trials.
  
  
  

This role is ideal for control engineers with a strong foundation in control theory, who can also selectively apply modern algorithmic techniques to solve complex stabilisation challenges. Control engineering is a critical capability for our business, offering long-term career growth in a technically diverse and innovative environment.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Is a team player with a “can-do” attitude that performs effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment and promotes the values of inclusiveness and diversity
• Is confident in their ability to help solve complex problems, asks challenging questions to develop their understanding, and suggests new ideas to further our product offering and increase our added value
• Is a self-starter, with an ability to manage their own workload and meet their agreed objectives, whilst also contributing to the development and delivery of wider operational goals
• Displays enthusiasm about learning new skills and technology and takes their own self-development seriously.
  
  
  

Skills, Qualifications And Experience

You will have bachelor’s or master’s Degree (BEng, BSc, MEng, MSc) in a Numerate, Scientific or Engineering subject or Higher Education/equivalent training and experience. You will be familiar with MATLAB and Simulink based tools for mathematical modelling, simulation and data analysis.

Ideally, you will have knowledge and experience in some of the following:

• classical control system design methods
• modern control methods and inertial stabilisation
• mechanical dynamics and motor technology
• modelling and simulation of nonlinear dynamical systems
• code generation from Simulink models
• C/C++ programming
• Matlab experience
• Practical experience in testing, optimising and integrating servo control systems
• Knowledge of, or interest in image processing and associated algorithms
  
  

  Interested in relocating to United Kingdom? Check out our comprehensive Relocation Jobs in United Kingdom page with detailed relocation packages and benefits.

  
  

Security Clearance statement

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance- United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

What We Can Offer

We are committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

Our packages will include a strong pension contribute, private healthcare, development focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities. Further support can be provided towards academic and membership attainments.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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