Safety-Critical Software   

Safety-Critical Software

Engineering certified software for medical, defence, and mission-critical systems requiring reliability, traceability, and compliance.

Capabilities-Safety-Critical

Hydrix develops embedded software for systems where failure is not an option. From implantable pumps and neuromodulation devices to diagnostic platforms and defence subsystems, our engineers deliver software that meets stringent global standards and operates with uncompromising reliability.

We specialise in the design and verification of safety-critical software, applying deep knowledge of embedded systems, system safety, and regulatory pathways. Our software lifecycle approach integrates early and continuous risk management as an integral part of the design process, continuous traceability, and rigorous verification to ensure compliance with standards such as IEC 62304, ISO 14971, and FDA CFR 820.

Safety-Critical Software Capabilities

  • Class B and Class C software development
    Development and verification of software used in high-risk medical and mission-critical applications, following best practices for modularity, traceability, and maintainability.
  • Complete software lifecycle documentation
    Planning and generation of artefacts including Software Requirements Specifications (SRS), Software Architecture and Design (SDS), SOUP documentation, and detailed risk control mapping.
  • Design for fault tolerance and fail-safe behaviour
    Implementation of watchdog mechanisms, redundancy, exception handling, and state machines that gracefully recover from failure modes. Designs support both software- and hardware-level safety interlocks.
  • Verification, validation, and audit readiness
    Unit, integration, and system testing aligned with FDA and MDR expectations. Our processes support traceability from requirements through to test evidence using tools such as JAMA.
  • Static and dynamic analysis
    Application of MISRA C/C++, cyclomatic complexity analysis, code coverage, and automated linting to meet internal quality gates and external scrutiny.
  • Cybersecure embedded design
    Integration with secure bootloaders, cryptographic libraries, threat modelling, and post-market security monitoring.

Safety-Critical Software Capabilities

Development and verification of software used in high-risk medical and mission-critical applications, following best practices for modularity, traceability, and maintainability.

Planning and generation of artefacts including Software Requirements Specifications (SRS), Software Architecture and Design (SDS), SOUP documentation, and detailed risk control mapping.

Implementation of watchdog mechanisms, redundancy, exception handling, and state machines that gracefully recover from failure modes. Designs support both software- and hardware-level safety interlocks.

Unit, integration, and system testing aligned with FDA and MDR expectations. Our processes support traceability from requirements through to test evidence using tools such as JAMA.

Application of MISRA C/C++, cyclomatic complexity analysis, code coverage, and automated linting to meet internal quality gates and external scrutiny.

Integration with secure bootloaders, cryptographic libraries, threat modelling, and post-market security monitoring.

Integrated Development Approach

Our software team works closely with systems, electronics, human factors, and QA functions to ensure alignment across architecture, implementation, and verification. We participate in Hazards Analysis, Risk Analysis (including FMEAs) , and design reviews from early-stage development to ensure software risks are well-understood and controlled.

We have delivered software that supports:

  • Life-sustaining cardiovascular platforms
  • Wearable and implantable devices
  • Clinical diagnostic and imaging systems
  • Field-ready industrial and defence hardware

We support client teams across all development stages, including:

  • Initial architecture and documentation
  • Prototyping and MVP software for usability and early clinical feedback
  • Class III product software ready for FDA submission and audit

Why Hydrix

What sets us apart is the depth of our people and the integration of skills across disciplines. Hydrix brings safety, regulatory, and software engineering expertise together under one roof to develop robust, high-performance systems. Our team understands the demands of regulated markets and mission-critical environments, and we build software that meets the highest global safety and compliance standards.

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