Aircrew Systems Engineer -Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS)

Dstl; England; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Dstl is seeking a highly motivated Aircrew Systems Engineer for a vital role in providing independent technical advice and assurance on aircrew systems across the UK Air Domain. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of combat air capability while working on cutting-edge programs. If you have the skills to contribute to the safety and effectiveness of UK military aviators, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme with 26% employer contribution.

Flexible working options including compressed hours and job shares.

Generous annual leave package.

Support for charterships and apprenticeships.

Onsite facilities such as gyms and restaurants.

Qualifications

• Experience in Aircrew Systems Integration.
• Knowledge of Life Support Systems.
• Experience working with industry partners.

Responsibilities

• Deliver independent aircrew systems advice and analysis.
• Provide assessments for airworthiness and crew system integration.
• Lead technical oversight of development programmes.

Skills

Strong written and verbal communication

Analytical techniques

Practical problem-solving

Proactive mindset

Job description

Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ or Dstl Portsdown West. Fareham.PO17 6AD

At Dstl, our vision is to have a modern way of working efficiently, accommodating and enabling our people to create, collaborate and deliver. To do this successfully in this job will require attendance at a Dstl location; Government Departments including wider MoD or Delivery and Mission Partner’s premises for a minimum of 60% of your working time. Where business needs allow, and with the agreement of your line manager, there may be the option for a combination of workplace and home-based working.This is a non-contractual arrangement.

Job Summary

Shape the Future of Aircrew Systems for Next-Gen Combat Aviation

Dstl is seeking a highly motivated Aircrew Systems Engineer to play a critical role in delivering independent technical advice and assurance on aircrew systems technologies across the UK Air Domain. As part of a team supporting cutting-edge programs like Team Tempest, FCAS, and GCAP, this is your opportunity to help influence future combat air capability and ensure the safety and effectiveness of UK military aviators.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job Description

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deliver independent aircrew systems advice and analysis to support MOD procurement, safety certification, and capability development.
• Provide assessments that inform airworthiness, crew systems integration, and engineering authority decisions for next-gen aircraft systems.
• Support MOD stakeholders including FCAS Requirements Managers, DE&S Delivery Teams, Front Line Commands, the MAA, and Aviation Duty Holders.
• Lead technical oversight of industry-led development and research programmes, helping to identify capability gaps, exploitation opportunities, and S&T pull-through routes (including from the Aircrew Systems Research Programme).
• Contribute to safe, innovative aircrew systems integration across life support, human factors, and crew survivability systems.
  
  

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deliver independent aircrew systems advice and analysis to support MOD procurement, safety certification, and capability development.
• Provide assessments that inform airworthiness, crew systems integration, and engineering authority decisions for next-gen aircraft systems.
• Support MOD stakeholders including FCAS Requirements Managers, DE&S Delivery Teams, Front Line Commands, the MAA, and Aviation Duty Holders.
• Lead technical oversight of industry-led development and research programmes, helping to identify capability gaps, exploitation opportunities, and S&T pull-through routes (including from the Aircrew Systems Research Programme).
• Contribute to safe, innovative aircrew systems integration across life support, human factors, and crew survivability systems.
  
  

Person specification

What We’re Looking For

Technical Skills – Essential:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work across a diverse stakeholder base.
• Proven experience using a broad variety of analytical techniques to identify problems and define solutions.
• Practical problem-solving ability using common sense and lateral thinking.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate programme challenges and implement effective mitigation.
  
  

Experience – Essential

Candidates should demonstrate experience in most of the following:

• Aircrew Systems Integration
• Life Support Systems
• Crew Escape Systems and Aircrew Equipment, including CBRN Protection
• Aerospace Human Factors
• Aviation Physiology
• Aerospace Medicine
• Experience working with industry partners and managing supplier relationships
  
  

Please see full job description in the candidate pack at the bottom of this page for more information.

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
  
  

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
  
  

Alongside your salary of £46,900, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £13,586 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
  
  

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team [e-mail] and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 4th August 2025 with interviews to be arranged week commencing 25th August 2025, interviews will consist of a combined technical and behavioural interview.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email [e-mail] stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.