Chief Systems Engineer

TN United Kingdom; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Chief Systems Engineer to lead and innovate within their Integrated Sensing and Protection business. This pivotal role will allow you to influence systems engineering governance across multiple projects, ensuring the effective execution of complex engineering tasks. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, guiding teams in adopting systems thinking methodologies. With a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, this position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of engineering practices while enjoying flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package. If you are passionate about systems engineering and ready to make a significant impact, this role is for you.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Private Healthcare

Dental Schemes

Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted Gym Membership

Cycle to Work Scheme

Access to Online Courses

25 Days Holiday

Bonus Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chief Engineer with a focus on Systems Engineering.
• Ability to lead high-performing teams and influence project outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and guidance for Systems Engineering governance.
• Act as the main point of contact for Systems Engineering across business areas.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Stakeholder Management

Leadership

Communication

Model Based Systems Engineering

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Master's Degree in Engineering

Tools

Cameo Systems Modeler

Matlab

Simulink

DOORS

Job description

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Leonardo are excited to offer a new and immediate opportunity for a Chief Systems Engineer.

Working at Line of Business level, you will support activities within our Integrated Sensing and Protection (ISP) business. This is a senior role that will branch over two Leonardo sites based at Basildon and Southampton and will involve UK wide interactions with counterparts performing a similar role at our other business areas.

The ISP Line of Business (LoB) has the vision to be the leader in the supply and integration of ISR & Force Protection electronic systems to our customers in the UK and further afield.

As part of our ISP LoB strategy and Systems Engineering Improvement Plan, we have created new and exciting roles aimed at transforming the way we operate.

About the Role

This is one of those new opportunities functioning across all three Business Areas (BA) within the LoB: Sensors, Comms & Force Protection and Mission Systems. As the Chief Systems Engineer you will act as the focal point for Systems Engineering Governance and trend our Systems Engineering capability in a positive direction. You will be the main point of contact on Systems Engineering capability and improvement matters across the Business Areas, providing proactive guidance to senior stakeholders on Systems Thinking and Methods for adoption that aligns with successful project execution.

What we build is exciting, interesting, challenging and complex. A diverse product portfolio of technologies, with each programme at a different stage in its development lifecycle. Given this complexity, it requires each programme to connect with the “Art of Systems Engineering” to ensure we are doing the right activities at the right time.

The focus of this role is to provide direction, guidance and expertise to ensure:

• Our systems engineering team assess the problem completely
• Our teams reuse techniques and artefacts across the portfolio of projects
• Our teams manage complexity through architecting our systems well
• Our teams predict and mitigate emergent behaviours when operating at a system or integrated systems level
• Our projects create and enact the correct verification and validation strategy

To be successful you will be demonstrate passion for your trade by instilling a systems-thinking approach based on experience forming and leading high performing teams. Using your skills as an influencer, you will thrive in dynamic environments, with the ability to make decisions quickly under pressure and set a clear technical vision for the team on Systems Engineering methodologies.

Given the extensive people engagement nature of the work we are still able to offer custom working that allows for a combination of home and on-site working i.e. flexible working delivering effective results. Day to day duties include;

• Influence the development of Engineering artefacts, their technical direction and ultimately stakeholder satisfaction
• You will work across a highly demanding and complex area of the business, immersed in full-scale development programmes spanning the breadth of the engineering lifecycle across the ISR and Force Protection teams
• Act as the point of contact for all things Systems Engineering to the Business Area Chief Engineer’s, Head of Engineering Project’s and Head of Systems Engineering (your reporting line will be to the ISP Head of Systems Engineering)
• Act as the focal point for systems engineering governance, supporting Lifecycle Management (LCM) activities
• Provide expertise and guidance to ensure our engineers understand the problem completely and stakeholder needs through effective coaching on Systems Engineering practices (early and later lifecycle stages)
• Ensure the appropriate level of concepting, modelling and simulation techniques are used across the lifecycle to inform architectures and solution options
• Influence whole life design considerations relating to Safety, Security, Manufacture, Test, Supportability, Through Life Support in line with company processes
• Hold quarterly threat and mitigation reviews across the Business Area’s on project status and enabling initiatives (e.g. capability, capacity, competency)
• Represent Leonardo within Systems Engineering bodies and groups of interest, such as INCOSE
• Identify trends across the Business Area’s, capturing and sharing lessons learned to improve the quality and efficiency of future work
• Promote an agile mind-set to systems engineering, building a culture of experimentation and failing fast
• Collaborate with your peers in similar roles across the UK to promote a culture of continual learning and improvement, acting as a change agent for systems engineering

About You

You will have proven experience as a Chief Engineer (or role with similar responsibilities), with the following attributes;

• Experience in applying governance and guidance on Systems Engineering LCM process
• Experience working in Integrated Project Teams delivering Engineering artefacts successfully
• Experience in eliciting stakeholder expectations
• Experience in creating and defining architectures
• Experience in managing and collaborating with internal/external stakeholders
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high complexity, dynamic environment at a senior level
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at different levels (An effective influencer)
• Motivation, tenacity and determination, with a desire to deliver outputs and results

The following experience/skills are very desirable;

• Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering tools and methodologies
• Experience working on largescale Systems Integration programmes, having managed issues associated with cost, schedule & quality implications
• Domain experience any of the following specialisms; Telecommunications, RF, Electronic Warfare, Electro-Optics, Air/Land/Sea sub-system Platform Integration, Data Distribution Services, Sensor Fusion, AI/Machine Learning
• Practitioner level ability using Model Driven Engineering tool e.g. Cameo Systems Modeler, Matlab, Simulink, DOORS (classic)

All successful applicants must be eligible for full security clearance and access to UK-caveated and ITAR controlled information.For more information and guidance, please visit:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

What we Offer

A competitive salary based on your experience and skills and an award winning benefits package that includes;

• Flexible Working:Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us.
• Company funded flexible benefits:Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance)
• Holidays:25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year
• Pension:Award winning pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)
• Wellbeing:Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers)
• Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme
• Training:Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera
• Bonus:Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below