Simulation UI Software Engineer - Qt/QML (d/m/f)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Simulation UI Software Engineer - Qt/QML (d/m/f)

Company: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Location: Manching, Bavaria, Germany

Job Type: Full time

Category: Software Engineering / Simulation Technology

Date Posted: 2026-08-07

Experience Level: Professional (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and architect cutting-edge simulation control stations and instructor operating stations for advanced aircraft simulators.

• Design and implement intuitive, user-friendly graphical user interfaces (GUIs) leveraging the Qt/QML framework.

• Collaborate within a cross-functional software engineering team to ensure the successful development and integration of simulation products.

• Drive the technical architecture of simulation software, focusing on scalability, maintainability, and seamless integration with other systems.

• Contribute to the entire software development lifecycle, from requirement gathering to testing, debugging, and maintenance, within an agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the front-end and UI aspects of complex simulation software, requiring a strong blend of software engineering principles, UI/UX design sensibilities, and specific expertise in Qt/QML. The "d/m/f" designation indicates the role is open to diversity in gender, male, and female candidates, reflecting Airbus's commitment to inclusivity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Engage with stakeholders and customers to accurately capture, interpret, and translate requirements into technical specifications for simulation control and debriefing stations.

• Define and architect the foundational software structure for simulation control stations, instructor operating stations, and flight training debriefing stations.

• Design and develop sophisticated, intuitive, and user-friendly interfaces using a custom GUI framework built upon Qt/QML.

• Establish and uphold the overall technical architecture of the software, encompassing codebase design, inter-system interfaces, and structural organization.

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software by writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code, adhering strictly to software development best practices.

• Analyze and debug complex software issues, implementing effective bug fixes to ensure system stability and performance.

• Actively participate in all phases of the agile software development methodology, including planning, daily stand-ups, code reviews, and retrospective meetings.

• Conduct thorough code reviews to ensure adherence to defined coding standards and maintain high code quality.

• Guarantee that the software system design and architecture are robust, scalable, maintainable, and easily integrable with other systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strong technical leadership in UI development for simulation systems. Emphasis on architecture, code quality, and agile practices indicates a mature development environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor or higher degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Experience: Demonstrated experience in software development, with a significant focus on frontend/UI application development. Professional experience within the range of 2-5 years is anticipated for this role.

Required Skills:

• C++ Proficiency: Strong command of C++ programming language, essential for core software development.

• Qt/QML Expertise: Deep understanding and practical experience with the Qt framework and QML for user interface development.

• Frontend/UI Development: Proven ability to design and implement sophisticated graphical user interfaces.

• Software Architecture: Experience in defining and maintaining technical software architecture.

• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity and practical experience with agile software development processes (e.g., Scrum, Kanban).

• DevOps Principles: Understanding and experience with modern DevOps pipelines, including CI/CD concepts.

• Containerization: Knowledge of containerization technologies (e.g., Docker).

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and debugging skills to identify and resolve software issues effectively.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with simulation technologies or environments.

• Familiarity with GUI frameworks beyond Qt/QML.

• Knowledge of other programming languages relevant to systems integration.

• Experience with formal software verification and validation processes.

• Understanding of user experience (UX) design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a specific technical stack (C++, Qt, QML) and modern development practices (Agile, DevOps, Containerization). A Master's degree and specific experience in simulation are preferred, indicating a desire for candidates with specialized knowledge and advanced academic backgrounds.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Qt/QML UI Projects: Showcase at least one significant project demonstrating complex UI development using Qt/QML, highlighting custom component creation and responsive design.

• Software Architecture Design: Include examples or documentation of software architecture designs, illustrating how scalability, maintainability, and integration were addressed.

• Agile Development Contribution: Provide evidence of participation in agile ceremonies and contributions to an agile development process, perhaps through project examples or team process descriptions.

• Code Quality & Best Practices: Demonstrate a commitment to clean code through examples of well-structured, documented, and tested code snippets, or explain your approach to code reviews and standards.

Process Documentation:

• Requirement Gathering & Analysis: Evidence of how you've translated stakeholder requirements into actionable software design specifications.

• UI Design & Implementation Workflows: Documentation or examples of your process for designing and implementing user interfaces, including wireframing, prototyping, and iteration.

• Testing & Debugging Methodologies: Outline your approach to software testing and debugging, including specific techniques and tools used to ensure software quality and stability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates are expected to provide tangible proof of their skills through a portfolio. This should include specific examples of UI development with Qt/QML, architectural design thinking, and adherence to modern development processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While a specific range is not provided, for a professional-level Simulation UI Software Engineer with 2-5 years of experience in Manching, Germany, a competitive salary would typically fall between €60,000 and €80,000 annually, depending on exact experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Attractive salary and special payments.

• 30 days of paid vacation plus additional days off for special occasions.

• Excellent opportunities for upskilling and career development within the Airbus group.

• Employer-funded pension plan.

• Employee stock options.

• Discounted car leasing programs.

• Special conditions for various insurances.

• Subsidies for public transport.

• On-site medical officer for health services.

• Access to a canteen and cafeteria.

• Proximity to a kindergarten.

• Support for work-life balance, including job sharing, part-time models, flexible working hours, and individual timeout options.

Working Hours: Standard professional working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through various work arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical professional software engineering roles in Germany, specifically in the Bavaria region, considering the experience level and industry (aerospace). Benefits are comprehensive, reflecting Airbus's commitment to employee well-being and career growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace & Defense. Airbus is a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and delivering aerospace products, services, and solutions. The Simulation Team specifically contributes to developing advanced simulation and training solutions for military aircraft, playing a critical role in pilot training and mission rehearsal.

Company Size: Airbus is a large, multinational corporation with tens of thousands of employees globally. This size offers significant opportunities for career progression and exposure to diverse projects and technologies.

Founded: Airbus was founded in 1970. Its long history and continuous innovation have cemented its position as a major player in the aerospace industry.

Team Structure:

• The Simulation Team is likely composed of specialized software engineers, systems engineers, and potentially domain experts in aviation and simulation.

• Reporting structure would typically involve a Team Lead or Engineering Manager overseeing the development activities.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with close interaction expected between UI developers, backend engineers, systems architects, and potentially project managers or customer representatives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions regarding UI and software architecture are informed by user requirements, simulation fidelity needs, and performance metrics.

• Agile Workflow Planning: The team likely utilizes agile methodologies for iterative development, planning, and continuous improvement of simulation software.

• Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD): Modern DevOps practices are likely employed to automate builds, testing, and deployments, ensuring efficient and reliable software delivery.

Company Website: https://www.airbus.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Airbus's culture emphasizes innovation, diversity, and employee development within a highly regulated and safety-critical industry. The Simulation Team operates within this framework, focusing on high-fidelity solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at the "Professional" level, typically requiring 2-5 years of dedicated experience. It signifies an individual contributor role with the expectation of technical expertise and independent contribution to project goals. The focus is on developing deep proficiency within the specified technology stack and simulation domain.

Reporting Structure: The Simulation UI Software Engineer will likely report to a Team Lead or Engineering Manager responsible for the simulation software development unit. This structure allows for guidance, mentorship, and clear task assignment.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" role, the impact is significant. High-fidelity simulators are crucial for effective pilot training, mission readiness, and reducing operational costs. High-quality UI/UX directly impacts the effectiveness and efficiency of training sessions, contributing to pilot proficiency and safety, which are paramount in the aerospace industry.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in Qt/QML, C++, simulation technologies, and UI/UX design, potentially becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into roles focusing on backend simulation development, systems architecture, or broader software engineering within Airbus.

• Leadership Development: With further experience, opportunities may arise to lead small teams, mentor junior engineers, or take on technical project leadership responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path at Airbus is structured, encouraging specialization and offering clear avenues for advancement within the engineering discipline or into management roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment located in Manching, Germany. This suggests a collaborative physical workspace.

Office Location(s): Manching, Germany, situated approximately an hour north of Munich. This location offers a balance between a more rural setting with outdoor activities and proximity to a major urban center.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace designed to foster teamwork, with opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues on the Simulation Team and potentially other engineering departments.

• Technology Access: Access to industry-standard development tools, powerful workstations, and potentially specialized simulation hardware for testing and integration.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, code reviews, and informal discussions will be part of the daily routine, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard professional working hours (approximately 40 hours/week) are expected, with flexibility options available, as indicated by the benefits. This allows for balancing professional responsibilities with personal life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement points towards a culture that values in-person collaboration and direct team engagement, which can be beneficial for complex engineering projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and application to assess qualifications against the core requirements, with particular attention to C++, Qt/QML, and UI development experience.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect in-depth discussions on your technical skills, focusing on C++ programming, Qt/QML capabilities, software architecture principles, and problem-solving approaches. This may involve coding exercises or discussions of past projects.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you will present selected projects from your portfolio, demonstrating your UI design skills, architectural thinking, and understanding of development processes.

• Team/Manager Interview: An assessment of your cultural fit, communication skills, and ability to collaborate within the Simulation Team and Airbus environment. You may discuss your motivation and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Qt/QML UI: Focus on projects that clearly showcase your expertise in building user interfaces with Qt/QML. Detail the complexity, specific features implemented, and any challenges overcome.

• Showcase Architecture: For any software project, be prepared to discuss the architectural decisions made, the rationale behind them, and how they contributed to scalability, maintainability, or performance.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or specific examples to demonstrate the success of your work. For UI, this might involve user feedback, efficiency gains in task completion, or adherence to design specifications.

• Tailor to Simulation: If you have any experience with simulation, aerospace, or complex control systems, explicitly highlight these connections.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Challenges: Be ready for practical coding exercises, likely in C++ or involving Qt concepts, to assess your problem-solving and implementation skills under pressure.

• System Design Discussions: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing a UI or a software component for a simulation system, considering constraints and requirements.

• Behavioral Questions: Anticipate questions about teamwork, handling challenges, and your approach to continuous learning, typical for assessing cultural fit and professional maturity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly evaluate technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and alignment with Airbus's collaborative and quality-focused engineering culture. A well-prepared portfolio is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qt Framework: The core toolkit for developing cross-platform applications with a focus on UI.

• QML (Qt Meta-Object Language): A declarative language for creating fluid and dynamic user interfaces, tightly integrated with Qt.

• C++: The primary programming language for backend logic, performance-critical components, and integration within the Qt ecosystem.

• IDE: Likely Integrated Development Environments such as Qt Creator, Visual Studio, or CLion will be used for development and debugging.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Version Control: Git (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) for source code management and collaboration.

• Build Systems: CMake or similar build tools commonly used with C++ projects.

• Testing Frameworks: Potentially Qt Test, Google Test, or custom frameworks for unit and integration testing.

CRM & Automation:

• Agile Project Management Tools: Jira, Confluence, or similar platforms for task tracking, documentation, and collaboration.

• CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, or other tools for automated builds, testing, and deployment pipelines.

• Containerization: Docker for creating consistent development and deployment environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Qt/QML/C++ stack is paramount. Familiarity with modern software development tools and practices, including version control, build systems, testing frameworks, and CI/CD, is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Engineering: A strong commitment to producing high-quality, reliable, and performant software, especially critical in the aerospace sector.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging new ideas and methodologies to enhance simulation fidelity, user experience, and development efficiency.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where team members work together effectively, share knowledge, and support each other's success.

• Integrity & Responsibility: Upholding the highest ethical standards and taking ownership of work, recognizing the critical nature of simulation systems.

• Diversity & Inclusion: Valuing contributions from individuals of all backgrounds, promoting an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with backend engineers, systems architects, QA testers, and potentially domain experts to ensure seamless integration of UI components with simulation logic.

• Agile Feedback Loops: Regular participation in code reviews and team discussions to provide and receive constructive feedback, driving iterative improvements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, technical insights, and lessons learned through team meetings, documentation, and informal interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Airbus's culture is deeply rooted in engineering excellence, safety, and collaboration. The Simulation Team embodies these values, with a strong emphasis on delivering high-fidelity, reliable solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Fidelity Requirements: Meeting the stringent demands for realism and accuracy in flight simulation UI, which requires meticulous attention to detail and performance optimization.

• Complex System Integration: Ensuring the UI seamlessly integrates with sophisticated backend simulation engines and other complex aircraft systems.

• Evolving Technology: Keeping pace with advancements in Qt/QML, UI/UX design trends, and simulation technologies to maintain cutting-edge solutions.

• Agile Adaptation: Successfully navigating and contributing to an agile development environment, balancing iterative development with long-term architectural vision.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Qt/QML Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized Qt modules, performance tuning, and advanced QML techniques.

• Simulation Domain Knowledge: Gaining in-depth understanding of flight dynamics, aircraft systems, and training methodologies through working on real-world simulation projects.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to backend development, systems engineering, and other areas within the simulation product lifecycle.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential for participation in relevant aerospace, simulation, or software engineering conferences and pursuing professional certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the challenge of working on critical, high-stakes technology with opportunities for deep technical skill development and domain expertise acquisition within the aerospace sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• UI Design Philosophy: "Describe your approach to designing a user interface for a complex simulation system. How do you balance functionality, usability, and aesthetic appeal?" Prepare to discuss principles of user-centered design and how you'd apply them to a simulator control station.

• Qt/QML Architecture: "How would you structure a QML application for scalability and maintainability, especially when integrating with a C++ backend? What design patterns would you consider?" Be ready to discuss component-based design, state management, and effective C++/QML interaction.

• Problem-Solving Scenario: "Imagine a scenario where a critical UI element in the simulator is causing performance degradation. How would you diagnose and resolve this issue?" Focus on your debugging methodology, performance profiling tools, and iterative problem-solving.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation for Aerospace/Simulation: "Why are you interested in working in the aerospace and simulation industry, and specifically at Airbus?" Research Airbus's role in defense and space, and articulate genuine interest in simulation technology.

• Team Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to collaborate with engineers from different disciplines (e.g., backend, systems) to achieve a common goal. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?" Prepare examples demonstrating teamwork and communication.

• Quality & Standards: "How do you ensure the quality and reliability of the code you write, especially in a safety-critical context?" Discuss your approach to code reviews, testing, and adhering to coding standards.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each project presented, clearly articulate the problem it solved, your specific role, the technologies used (especially Qt/QML), and the outcome or impact achieved.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive into the technical details of your implementations, explaining design choices, architectural patterns, and any innovative solutions you employed.

• Visuals are Key: Use screenshots, mockups, or even short video demonstrations of your UI work. For architectural aspects, use diagrams to illustrate system structure and data flow.

• Conciseness: Structure your presentation to be clear and to the point, respecting the interviewer's time while conveying essential information.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating practical application of C++, Qt/QML, UI design, and agile principles, alongside a clear understanding of Airbus's values and the demands of the aerospace industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Airbus careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your C++ and Qt/QML experience, highlighting UI development projects, software architecture contributions, and any experience with Agile and DevOps practices. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 key projects that best showcase your UI design skills with Qt/QML, architectural thinking, and problem-solving capabilities. Be ready to present these clearly and concisely.

• Research Airbus & Simulation: Understand Airbus's role in the aerospace and defense sector, and familiarize yourself with the importance of simulation in pilot training and mission readiness.

• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common technical, behavioral, and situational questions, focusing on providing specific examples and demonstrating your thought process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.