Electronics Manager

Saab AB; Bedford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Pension with 8% employer contribution

Private medical insurance

Group income protection

Death in service insurance

Share matching up to 5%

Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

Job summary

Saab UK in Bedfordshire is seeking an Electronics Manager to lead an 8–10 person electronics engineering team across multiple programmes. You will guide design, prototyping and governance for safety-critical developments, ensuring traceability and DO-254 compliance while coordinating with Systems, Software and Mechanical teams.

The role demands strong leadership, extensive hardware design experience, and the ability to drive performance in a fast-paced defence environment.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of project management experience in hardware development.
• Proven ability to lead a team of 8–10 electronics engineers.
• Deep knowledge of electronics hardware design and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with safety-critical electronic development and DO-254 concepts.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration across systems, software, mechanical, test and PM.
• UK MoD security clearance suitable or willingness to obtain SC level.

Responsibilities

• Guide and develop a team of electronic engineers (8–10) across several programmes.
• Define team objectives and ensure alignment with business needs.
• Foster engineering excellence, traceability, and continuous improvement.
• Act as SME for DO-254 processes and industry best practice.
• Maintain design assurance and verification traceability for safety-critical work.
• Oversee configuration control, verification and validation activities.
• Collaborate with Systems, Software, Mechanical, Test and PM teams.
• Support bids, cost estimates, design planning and stakeholder reporting.
• Manage workloads, risks and dependencies to meet schedules.

Skills

Project management

Programme management

Hardware design

Digital design

Mixed-signal design

Electronics manufacturing

Attention to detail

Regulatory reading

Stakeholder management

Time management

Multi-project management

Adaptable

Communication skills

Organisation

Proactive work ethic

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.

The Role:

This role will be part of our BlueBear Business in Bedfordshire. This Electronics Manager role will assist in leading the electronics design and prototyping department, guiding overall design and a supporting management of a team of electronic engineers. This role is suited to a person with extensive experience in design management with an 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 (8-10 staff) across multiple programmes.
• Define team objectives and performance goals aligned with business needs.
• Foster a culture focused on engineering excellence, traceability, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Design Standardisation & Quality Governance:

• Act as one of the organisational Subject Matter Expert for DO-254 processes, standards, and industry best practice.
• 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:

• Strong project and programme management experience.
• 6-8 years experience in project management with a focus on hardware design across digital and mixed signal systems
• Significant knowledge in detailed electronics hardware design.
• Detailed understanding of the electronics manufacturing processes
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Process driven, ability to read legislation and implement processes to ensure adherence.
• Experience managing 5+ complex projects/programmes at a time with many stakeholders.
• Excellent time management/prioritisation skills
• 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 skills
• Conscientious, with a proactive work ethic

Desirable:

• Experience working on many projects at once and managing your time effectively.
• 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.