Head of Systems

Connect Group; Southampton; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Group, a leading product design and innovation company in the UK, seeks a strategic and technical Head of Systems to steer the systems and software functions across the product lifecycle.

You will define technical strategy, architecture, and standards, lead systems engineering teams, and collaborate with product, project, and operations to deliver scalable, reliable solutions that meet commercial goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field (computer/electrical engineering or computer science).
• Extensive experience in systems engineering, software engineering, embedded systems, or similar technical leadership in product development.
• Familiarity with OS coding techniques, IP protocols, and hardware interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Lead the systems engineering capability across the business.
• Define and govern system architecture, design standards, and technical direction.
• Own system requirements, development planning, verification, and validation.
• Improve product quality, reliability, root-cause analysis, and performance.
• Identify and manage technical risks with regular stakeholder updates.
• Establish systems engineering lifecycle processes (requirements, integration, testing, release).
• Collaborate with product, project, commercial, and operations to translate business needs into engineering roadmaps.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering quality, delivery, and performance.

Skills

Systems engineering

Software engineering

Embedded systems

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Salary: up to £90k, plus excellent benefits package

About our Client

Our client is a prominent product design and innovation company that acts as the driving creative and technical force behind a family of established businesses. By combining broad engineering capabilities with unique technical expertise in measurement technologies, they build advanced products designed to solve the market's most challenging problems.

Position summary

Our client is seeking a strategic and technical Head of Systems to lead their systems and software functions. In this key leadership role, you will ensure that technology solutions seamlessly support innovation, operational, and commercial objectives. You will be responsible for defining technical strategy and architecture, establishing robust engineering standards, and overseeing the delivery of scalable, reliable systems and software solutions across the full product lifecycle.

Main responsibilities

• Lead and develop the systems engineering capability across the business.
• Define and govern system architecture, design standards, and overall technical direction.
• Own system requirements, development planning, verification, and validation activities.
• Improve product quality, reliability, root-cause analysis, and performance.
• Identify and manage technical risks while providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain systems engineering lifecycle processes, including requirements management, integration, testing, and release readiness.
• Collaborate closely with product, project, commercial, and operational teams to translate business needs into practical engineering roadmaps.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering quality, delivery predictability, and technical performance through metrics and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field, such as computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.
• Strong experience in systems engineering, software engineering, embedded systems, or a similar technical leadership role within a product development environment.
• Familiarity with modern operating system coding techniques, IP protocols, and hardware interfaces.
• Excellent technical problem-solving skills with a proven ability to investigate root causes and make sound engineering decisions.
• Demonstrated experience managing, coaching, or mentoring technical teams to promote engineering excellence.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business-focused recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.