A YORK company which tests software in planes and cars has completed a recruitment drive after winning a series of international contracts.

Rapita Systems, based at York Science Park, has taken on an additional seven staff across the business.

Eric Foot, Mark Pearce and Phil Smith joined the field engineering team, working to integrate Rapita’s tools with high-tech systems at customer sites on five continents.

The trio were recruited to work on a specific testing project involving a high-profile aerospace customer.

Michael Lucas and Jack Whitham are the newest members of the product development team, the department responsible for creating the tools which help customers to assess how well their systems are performing.

Mr Lucas and Mr Whitham will help to develop the next version of the Rapita Verification Suite, a collection of tools designed to reduce the cost of testing the performance and effectiveness of safety-critical systems in industries such as aerospace and automotive.

The two additional recruits are Tasha Huxtable in admin and finance, and Dan Harris, the new technical sales executive.

The latest recruits take the number of staff at Rapita’s York and Cambridge offices to 29.

The renewed recruitment drive follows recent contract successes with major plane and car manufacturers in the UK, Europe, North America, Brazil, India and China.

Rapita now exports to Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the US with customers predominantly being in the aerospace and automotive electronics industries.

Rapita has targeted these sectors as tools which reduce the cost of testing the performance and effectiveness of software are crucial to successful product development.

Rapita Systems is also leading research work which could have a significant impact on the development of aerospace and automotive electronics systems around the world, according to Guillem Bernat, Rapita Systems’ chief executive.

Mr Bernat said: “This collaborative work with leading global manufacturers such as Airbus is expected to give consumers enhanced safety features in planes and cars, more advanced flying and driving experiences, and reduce environmental damage.

“With high quality people possessing the right blend of skills, attitude and experience we look forward to continuing this research and developing it to meet customer needs whatever their location.”