Head of Electronic Engineering

Saab AB; Leighton Buzzard; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence and security company in Leighton Buzzard is seeking a Head of Electronics to lead the electronics design and prototyping department. This role involves mentoring a team of engineers, managing the design lifecycle, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. The ideal candidate will have 15-20 years of experience in electronics hardware design, strong leadership capabilities, and a proactive work ethic. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to critical projects in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

Qualifications

• 15-20 years experience in electronics hardware design across digital and mixed signal systems.
• Extensive wiring and PCB rework experience.
• Strong project and programme management experience.
• Understanding of electronics manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of electronic engineers.
• Own the electronic hardware design lifecycle from requirements to production.
• Maintain design assurance processes for safety-critical electronics.

Skills

Project management

Electronics hardware design

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Chartered/Incorporated Engineering Status

Tools

VHDL

Verilog

Embedded C

Python

Job description

Introduction

Saab in UK is growing rapidly, with over 500 colleagues across eight sites. We bring together Swedish heritage and British expertise to drive innovation in areas such as software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training. Joining Saab in UK means contributing to the security and resilience of society while building a career with real scope for personal and professional growth.

What you will be part

Explore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 26,000 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. Read more about us here.

The Role:

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

This Head of Electronics position will head up the electronics design and prototyping department, leading overall design and a managing a team of electronic engineers.

This role is suited to a person with extensive experience in detailed electronic design, strong leadership capability, and extensive knowledge of safety- and mission-critical development environments, including DO-254 compliance and controlled design documentation processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of electronic engineers (8–10 staff) across multiple programmes.
• Define team objectives, competency development plans, and performance goals aligned with business needs.
• Foster a culture focused on engineering excellence, traceability, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Technical Leadership & Design Execution: Own and drive the electronic hardware design lifecycle from requirements capture through to production release. Acting as the design authority.
• Lead detailed design activities for digital, mixed-signal, Application Processor and FPGA-based, and high-reliability systems.
• Oversee complex circuit design, worst-case analysis, component derating, power integrity assessment, and reliability engineering.
• Provide expert review and approval of schematics, PCB layouts, component selection, and detailed design documentation.

• Design Standardisation & Quality Governance: Act as 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.
• 15-20 years experience in electronics hardware design across digital and mixed signal systems
• Chartered/Incorporated Engineering Status
• Experience applying and designing to DO-254
• At least 5 years of extensive wiring and PCB rework experience.
• Significant expertise 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+ 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
• Leading a team
• 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. As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or have the ability to gain it.

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.