Electronics Engineering Manager

Saab UK; Oakley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Pension 8% company contribution

Private medical insurance

Group income protection

Death in service

Share matching scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking an Electronics Engineering Manager for the BlueBear UAV business in Bedfordshire. You will lead the electronics design and prototyping team, guiding full design lifecycle from requirements to production release and ensuring high‑reliability, safety‑critical development.

You will collaborate with Systems, Software, Mechanical, Test and Programme Management, while supporting bid development and risk management in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in electronics hardware design across digital and mixed‑signal systems.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects with many stakeholders.
• Wiring, PCB rework and understanding electronics manufacturing processes.
• Process driven with ability to implement compliant design processes for safety‑critical work.
• Experience interfacing with subcontractors and cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the electronics design and prototyping department for the BlueBear UAV business.
• Own and drive hardware design across projects from requirements to production release.
• Provide technical reviews of schematics, PCB layouts and component selection.
• Govern design assurance, verification traceability and configuration control.
• Coordinate with Systems, Software, Mechanical, Test and Programme Management teams.

Skills

Electronics design

Team leadership

Design verification

Safety-critical development

Tools

VHDL/Verilog

Embedded C

Python

Job description

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

What you will be part of

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe.

Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems.

Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role:

This role will be part of our BlueBear UAV Business in Bedfordshire.

This Electronics Engineering Manager role will assist in leading the electronics design and prototyping department, guiding overall design and supporting management of a team of electronic engineers.

This role is suited to a person with extensive experience in design management with a focus on electronic design, strong leadership capability, and knowledge of safety- and mission‑critical development environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management:

• Guide, manage, and develop a delivery from a team of electronic engineers (10+ staff) across multiple programmes.
• Assist in defining team objectives and performance goals aligned with business needs.

Technical Leadership & Design Execution:

• Own and drive the electronic hardware designs for specific projects, implementing full design lifecycle from requirements capture through to production release.
• Lead detailed design activities for digital, mixed‑signal, Application Processor and FPGA‑based, and high‑reliability systems.
• Provide expert review and approval of schematics, PCB layouts, component selection, and detailed design documentation.

Design Standardisation & Quality Governance:

• Maintain design assurance processes and verification traceability across safety‑critical electronics developments.
• Oversee configuration control, Verification and Validation activities.

Project & Stakeholder Coordination:

• Work cross‑functionally with Systems Engineering, Software, Mechanical, Test, and Programme Management teams to ensure aligned delivery.
• Support bid development, cost estimation, design planning, and reporting to internal and customer stakeholders.
• Ensure workloads, priorities, project risks, and dependencies are managed effectively to meet schedule commitments.

Qualifications and Skills:

Essential:

• Extensive experience in electronics hardware design across digital and mixed signal systems, with some experience of managing related design projects.
• Significant knowledge in detailed electronics hardware design.
• Wiring & PCB rework experience.
• Detailed understanding of the electronics manufacturing processes.
• Process driven, ability to read legislation and implement processes to ensure adherence.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects/programmes at a time with many stakeholders.
• Highly organised and able to work multi projects in fast paced environment.
• Adaptable personality with professional approach.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organisation & time management/prioritisation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Desirable:

• Experience of interfacing with subcontractors.
• Experience writing VHDL or Verilog.
• Experience writing embedded C and Python.
• Subject to UK MoD security clearance vetting to a minimum SC level.

Saab UK Company Benefits:

• 30 days annual leave
• Workplace pension scheme with 8% company contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Group income protection scheme
• Death in service insurance
• Up to 5% share matching scheme
• Company enhanced Maternity/Adoption & Paternity leave.
• • Much more

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.