AI Senior Systems Engineer

Babcock International; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking an experienced AI Senior Systems Engineer who possesses extensive skills in developing integrated products. This role, based in Bristol, involves technical leadership in AI-driven systems and managing various engineering activities. Candidates must have a strong background in systems architecture, lifecycle management, and software engineering. The position offers competitive salary and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Payment of Professional Fees

10-days special paid leave for reservists

Qualifications

• Experience of Lifecycle Management including Research and Development.
• Systems architecture and experience in leading small team and projects.
• Experience in software and development engineering lifecycles.
• A good understanding of cross domain and cross boundary requirements.
• Background in Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities and the defense industry.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in a team of multi-discipline engineers to develop solutions.
• Lead projects from requirements to formal acceptance of the product.
• Manage interfaces and trade-offs between systems and requirements.
• Oversee integration of software stacks of AI models and algorithms.
• Identify and communicate risks, assumptions, and issues.

Skills

Lifecycle Management

Systems architecture

Software development engineering lifecycles

Cross domain requirements

Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities

Education

HNC/HND or Degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Title

AI Senior Systems Engineer

Location

Bristol + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation

Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type

Full time / Permanent

Role ID

SF69359

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as an AI Senior Systems Engineer at either our Ashton Vale site or the Babcock Technology Centre, both located in Bristol.

The Role

We’re looking for an AI Senior Systems Engineer with extensive experience in developing integrated product with skills across software and hardware who has the gravitas to work within a multi-disciplinary team, and who has a strong interest in, or experience of, designing, assuring, and delivering AI-driven systems.

This role is key to achieving all the Systems Engineer lifecycle with the ability to undertake technical management of internal and external sub-contractors with levels of delegated authority, having the ability and drive to think with a systems perspective. This is a senior technical leadership position with significant responsibility for product quality, security, assurance and long-term maintainability.

Day-to-day, you’ll work collaboratively in a team of multi-discipline engineers, subject matter experts and the customer to mature and develop creative solutions for our current and future clients.

• Own all SE artifacts, including development of engineering plans in conjunction with the technical lead, delivery of systems engineering activities in accordance with the SEMP and management of systems engineering activities. Will be expected to provide systems engineering expertise in the support of all projects and activities within the AI products development team.
• Leading projects and work packages from requirements, architecture design review and testing to formal acceptance of the product. Will include the managing interfaces and trade-offs between systems, sub systems, functions and requirements. Through applying best placed systems engineering practices and systems thinking to develop solutions.
• Managing and working with Subject Matter Experts and external technology suppliers, including experienced AI, data, and software engineers, to plan and execute project delivery.
• Overseeing the integration of software stacks comprised of AI models and algorithms, backend and database systems, and user interfaces, across heterogeneous hardware targets. Ensuring deep assurance of integrated AI-driven products, including the test and validation for mission critical environments.
• Identifying and communication risk, assumptions, issues, dependencies, opportunities developing estimates of engineering activities.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with days in the office and days working from home.

Essential Experience of the AI Senior Systems Engineer

• Experience of Lifecycle Management including Research and Development.
• Systems architecture and experience in leading small team and projects.
• Experience in software and development engineering lifecycles.
• A good understanding of cross domain and cross boundary requirements and interface.
• Background in Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities and the defence industry

Qualifications for the AI Senior Systems Engineer

• HNC/HND or Degree in engineering or demonstrable experience in senior Systems Engineering positions with a software component focus.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date

12/01/2026