Chief Engineer- Maritime Defence Systems

Positiv Cohort; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading maritime defence company in Portsmouth seeks an experienced Chief Engineer to oversee the technical delivery of complex platforms. Responsibilities include ensuring technical integrity, managing engineering decisions, and leading a multi-disciplinary team. Candidates must have proven experience in maritime or defence domains, with a degree in Engineering and Chartered Engineer status preferred. This role offers strategic oversight and technical engagement in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Chief Engineer or equivalent role in maritime, aerospace, or defence.
• Demonstrated authority in technical decision-making and systems development.
• Strong background in systems architecture and safety-critical engineering.

Responsibilities

• Own all engineering decisions and platform-level safety assurance.
• Align engineering execution with programme milestones.
• Develop a high-performing engineering team.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Strategic mindset

Analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Technical leadership and decision-making

Collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams

Education

Degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

Role Overview

An opportunity exists for a decisive and visionaryChief Engineerto lead the technical delivery of a complex maritime defence platform. This hands-on role is responsible for ensuring the platform’s technical integrity, safety, and readiness for operational deployment. The successful candidate will act as the single point of engineering authority, guiding the progressive development of technology readiness levels (TRL) and ensuring the system meets demanding performance, safety, and reliability standards.

This role requires a balance of strategic oversight and detailed technical engagement, with a focus on delivering high-integrity systems in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Authority

• Own all engineering decisions and platform-level safety assurance.
• Manage technical risk and ensure compliance with defence standards and certification requirements.

Engineering Delivery Leadership

• Align engineering execution with programme milestones and production readiness.
• Ensure technical outputs support operational capability and customer expectations.

Technology & Team Leadership

• Inspire and develop a high-performing engineering team.
• Maintain a clear technology roadmap that supports modularity, scalability, and open architecture principles.
• Lead technical reviews and sign-offs, acting as the final decision-maker on design matters.

Mission-Focused Development

• Ensure all engineering activity contributes to operational advantage and mission success.
• Collaborate across engineering, operations, support, and commercial teams to integrate delivery and technology.

Agile Decision-Making

• Make informed technical decisions under time pressure, balancing feasibility, risk, and operational need.

Platform Architecture & Design

• Define and communicate system architecture, operating principles, and performance expectations.
• Maintain a coherent design narrative across disciplines.

Technical Delivery Management

• Ensure visibility of design progress and alignment with programme priorities.
• Coordinate with project and programme leads to maintain delivery momentum.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Interface with systems, validation, production, and support teams to ensure platform coherence.
• Communicate trade-offs and risks across engineering disciplines.

Required Experience

• Proven experience in a Chief Engineer or equivalent role within maritime, aerospace, or defence technology domains.
• Demonstrated authority in technical decision-making and leadership of complex systems development.
• Strong background in systems architecture, integration, and safety-critical engineering.
• Experience working with UK MOD or allied defence organisations.
• Familiarity with MBSE and digital engineering practices.
• Understanding of military operational concepts and equipment deployment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional standing.

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent communication skills, capable of articulating complex trade-offs across technical and commercial boundaries.
• Strategic mindset with a delivery focus and pragmatic approach.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Confident and authoritative in technical leadership and decision-making.
• Collaborative and adaptable, with experience working across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Comfortable making calculated trade-offs to accelerate capability and delivery.