Head of Systems Engineering

Saab UK; Bedford; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Pension scheme 8%

Private medical insurance

Death in service insurance

Share matching scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Saab UK seeks a senior Systems Engineering leader as the primary authority for Systems Engineering in the BlueBear unit. You will define the technical vision and governance to design, integrate, and verify complex aerospace and defence solutions, aligned with Lifecycle Management and UK MoD needs.

Responsibilities include strategic direction, governance of LCM activities (bids, SRR/PDR/CDR, audits), MBSE adoption, and leading engineers and SMEs while engaging with internal IPTs and external

Qualifications

• Senior leadership with multi-disciplinary teams in defence/aerospace.
• Strong systems engineering lifecycle knowledge (requirements, architecture, integration).
• Excellent stakeholder influence and communication.
• Experience managing engineering budgets and bid risks/opportunities.
• MBSE adoption and digital transformation experience.
• Design for Excellence (DfX) familiarity; UK security clearance capability.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for the systems engineering department.
• Govern LCM activities: bids, design reviews, audits.
• Drive MBSE and digital transformation of capabilities.
• Act as technical authority for complex technical issues.
• Mentor and manage a team of engineers and SMEs.
• Oversee IVVQ strategies to meet safety, security and performance goals.
• Engage with internal IPT leads and external stakeholders to influence roadmaps.
• Ensure compliance with INCOSE and ISO 15288 standards.

Skills

Leadership

Systems engineering

Communication

Business acumen

MBSE

DfX concepts

System of Systems

Education

Masters or PhD preferred

CEng status

INCOSE membership

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

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 is part of our BlueBear Business Unit.

To act as the primary authority and strategic leader for the Systems Engineering discipline. You will be responsible for defining the technical vision, governance, and methodologies used to design, integrate, and verify complex aerospace and defence solutions. The role ensures that all engineering activities align with Lifecycle Management (LCM) processes and meet the evolving needs of customers like the UK MoD and international partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Set the technical direction for the systems engineering department, promoting "Systems Thinking" and agile methodologies to improve project execution and system architecting.
• Engineering Governance: Act as the focal point for Systems Engineering Governance, overseeing Lifecycle Management (LCM) activities including bids, design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), and audits.
• Capability Development: Drive the continuous improvement of departmental capabilities, including the implementation of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and digital transformation initiatives.
• Technical Authority: Serve as the senior escalation point for complex technical issues, resolving architectural conflicts and ensuring the mitigation of emergent behaviours at a "System of Systems" level.
• Departmental Management: Lead and mentor a team of Systems Engineers and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), managing resource allocation, recruitment, and succession planning.
• V&V Strategy: Oversee the creation and enactment of robust Verification, Validation, and Qualification (IVVQ) strategies to ensure solutions meet all safety, security, and performance requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain high-level relationships with internal IPT leads and external stakeholders (customers/suppliers) to elicit requirements and influence technical roadmaps.
• Process Standards: Ensure all activities adhere to industry standards (e.g., INCOSE, ISO 15288) and internal quality, safety, and airworthiness policies.

Skills and Experience:

• Leadership: Significant experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams (typically 10+ staff) in a high-complexity defence or aerospace environment.
• Systems Expertise: Deep knowledge of the full systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements elicitation, architectural design, and complex systems integration.
• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and act as a change agent for engineering excellence.
• Business Acumen: Experience managing engineering budgets, work package estimation, and identifying technical risks/opportunities within bids.
• Degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Mathematics, or a related scientific discipline (Masters or PhD preferred).
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status and membership in professional bodies like INCOSE.
• Methodologies: Proven experience with MBSE tools and "Design for Excellence" (DfX) concepts.
• Ability to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance to SC or DV level.

Saab UK Company Benefits:

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

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties. You will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your evolving role within the company and the overall business objectives of the company.