Architecture - Principal Systems Engineer

Synoptix; Bristol; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Company Bonus

25 Days holiday (plus bank holidays)

Flexible hybrid working arrangements

Continuous professional development

Udemy training facility

Electric car scheme

Bike to work scheme

Private health care (AXA)

Job summary

Synoptix is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer specialising in Systems Architecture to shape complex solutions and influence strategic customer decisions. You will lead MBSE initiatives, collaborate with IfSE and academia, and drive the evolution of our Systems Engineering capability across projects.

You will mentor engineers, champion Digital Engineering practices, and engage with senior stakeholders to turn innovative ideas into practical outcomes for customers and the business.

Qualifications

• MBSE expertise and systems thinking in complex engineering projects
• Strong ability to capture requirements, manage changes, and analyse system architectures
• Experience delivering SE documentation and architectural artifacts
• Ability to influence customers and stakeholders through thought leadership

Responsibilities

• Lead MBSE activities and collaborate with industry groups
• Contribute to thought leadership through papers and presentations
• Partner with academia and industry bodies to advance best practices
• Bridge academic innovations with practical engineering in customer projects
• Provide technical consultancy across design lifecycles and delivery

Skills

MBSE

Systems Architecture

Systems Thinking

Requirements Capture

Model Based Systems Engineering

Systems Integration

Verification & Validation

SE Documentation

Digital Engineering

Leadership

Tools

DOORs

JAMA

JIRA

Enterprise Architect

Cameo Systems Modeller

Rhapsody

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

Architecture - Principal Systems Engineer

The Role:

As a Principal Systems Engineer specialising in Systems Architecture, you will play a leading role in defining complex solutions, influencing strategic customer decisions, and driving the evolution of our Systems Engineering capability. At Synoptix, our Principal Systems Engineers do more than deliver projects—they help shape the future of Systems Engineering across industry, our customers, and the profession itself.

You will work closely with customers across our sectors, helping them tackle their most challenging engineering problems. Beyond project delivery, you will play an active role in advancing the Systems Engineering profession. In addition to our close engagement with the Institute for Systems Engineering (IfSE), you will contribute to and lead internal and external working groups focused on developing best practice, tackling emerging challenges, and shaping the future direction of the discipline.

Within Synoptix, you will be a recognised technical leader and mentor, inspiring and developing the next generation of engineers while championing Digital Engineering approaches and modern Systems Engineering practices. As part of our agile and empowered culture, you will have the freedom to influence strategy, engage directly with senior stakeholders, identify new opportunities, and turn innovative ideas into practical outcomes for our customers and the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Interacting with MBSE working groups within industry
• Collaborate with IfSE, academia, industry partners and professional bodies
• Develop thought leadership through formal papers, white papers, conference presentations and industry insights
• Work alongside leading universities and research organisations, to help bridge the gap between academic innovation and practical application
• Delivering technical consultant expertise on a variety of customer projects from air to sub-surface
• Supporting Systems Engineering activity across the design lifecycle
• Development of proposals and statements of work
• Engaging with customer representative to identify opportunities, and seeing them through to delivery

Key Skills:

We are interested in any of the following skills, but they are not essential for you to apply:

• Facilitating good Systems Engineering practices
• Application of Digital Engineering methodologies
• Systems Engineering Architecture
• Systems Thinking
• Requirements Capture, Management and Analysis
• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Systems Integration
• Verification and Validation
• Successful delivery of SE documentation
• Knowledge of supporting toolsets (e.g. DOORs, JAMA, JIRA, Enterprise Architect, Cameo Systems Modeller, Rhapsody, MATLAB, Simulink)

Benefits:

• Discretionary Company Bonus - At the end of each financial year, based on company / personal performance
• 25 Days holiday not including bank holidays with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements
• Continuous professional development including incentives
• Access to online Udemy training facility to support grade specific learning pathways
• Electric car scheme
• Bike to work scheme
• Private health care (AXA)

About Us:

Synoptix was formed in 2011 to provide engineering solutions across various technical industries. We have evolved from a company established and focussed on Systems Thinking principles into an Engineering company providing solutions and services across