Combat Systems Consultant

BAE Systems; Nursted; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contractor based in the UK is seeking a Combat Systems Consultant to support operational analysis in maritime and land systems. The role involves working collaboratively to address complex problems and requires strong experience in combat systems and stakeholder engagement. Ideal candidates will have an engineering background and a degree or equivalent. This position offers a hybrid working arrangement and a salary up to £76,200 plus benefits.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) with relevant professional experience in engineering, defence, or combat systems.
• Expertise in combat systems.
• Robust engineering background for complex defence systems.

Responsibilities

• Support MarLabs analysis tasks and technical support delivery.
• Work with operational analysts for performance representation.
• Provide technical insights regarding combat system capabilities.
• Support MarLabs modelling and wargaming activities.
• Conduct research for operational analysis and technology roadmaps.

Skills

Combat systems expertise

Engineering background

Stakeholder engagement

Innovative problem-solving

Education

Degree in engineering or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Combat Systems Consultant

Location: Portsmouth, Portsdown Technology Park or Frimley, we offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements. Please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: Up to £76,200 dependent on skills and experiences plus executive package

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting MarLabs analysis tasks, identifying and scoping aspects of the technical support required to deliver the task, and supporting inter and intra-business discussions to facilitate this
• Working with the MarLabs Operational Analysts to ensure the analysis has the best (within reason and classification) representation and understanding of the performance and capabilities of the differing Combat System equipment
• Using personal experience to provide technical insights with regard to current and near-future capabilities in sense, decide and effect, specifically with any emphasis on real-world limitations and constraints
• Supporting MarLabs modelling and wargaming activities at all levels, providing subject matter expertise where appropriate
• Providing insight into typical combat platform operations and the application of various sense, decide and effect capabilities within this context
• Conduct targeted research to support MarLabs Operational Analysis, including enabling value-add engagement with academia and industry, addressing Maritime & Land sector knowledge gaps, and developing long-term (20–25 year) technology roadmaps to inform future capability evolution

Your skills and experiences

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) with relevant professional experience in engineering, defence, or combat systems
• Deep expertise in combat systems
• Robust engineering background underpinning the analysis, development, and integration of complex defence systems
• Ability to challenge established norms, draw on specialist networks, and apply innovative, inclusive thinking to problem-solving and solution development
• Strong experience engaging senior stakeholders, particularly customers, with a proven ability to build trusted, mutually beneficial relationships

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The MarLabs Team

MarLabs is the future facing Operational Analysis team supporting BAE Systems Maritime and Land business. The small team of analysts are focused on informing business strategy, campaigns and future product development, seeking to understand the customers challenges, inform the business response, be this in regard to short-term opportunities, or longer-term strategic positioning.

The MarLabs Combat Systems Consultant is a thought leader in maritime and land combat technologies, providing deep expertise in above- and below-water systems and their enabling infrastructure. Reporting to the Lead Technologist, you will shape future battlespace capabilities, support operational analysis, drive sector growth, and build strategic relationships across BAE Systems, academia, and industry to deliver tangible business impact.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date

11th February 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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