Head of Systems Engineering

Universal Quantum Ltd.; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Meaningful equity participation

Flexible holiday allowance

Flexible working

10% matching pension

Generous parental support policy

Private health / dental insurance & 1g

£2,000 annual personal development bud

Relocation support

Job summary

Universal Quantum Ltd. is seeking a Head of Systems Engineering to define and implement complex quantum computing systems across electronic, mechanical, cryogenic, optical, software and control domains.

The role leads multidisciplinary teams and ensures product requirements translate into coherent, testable solutions. You will own system-level governance from concept to deployment, building an agile engineering organisation across the UK and international locations, and driving strategy, risk

Qualifications

• Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent industry experience.
• Significant experience leading systems engineering across complex hardware and software products.
• Experience building and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong ownership of requirements, system architecture, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation.
• Deep understanding of systems engineering methodologies, lifecycle models, risk management, and configuration management.
• Ability to align global stakeholders across research, engineering, product, and programme functions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the systems engineering strategy, lifecycle, standards, governance, and toolset.
• Lead system-level design and requirements decomposition with cross-functional teams.
• Establish design reviews, risk management, and corrective actions to closure.
• Maintain system-level plans, dependencies, and performance measures for programmes.
• Build and mentor multidisciplinary systems engineering and integration teams.
• Foster cross-functional relationships across research, engineering, product, programme, quality, supply chain, and customers.
• Contribute to verification, validation, and test strategy for integrated assemblies.
• Ensure reliability, safety, regulatory and quality requirements are met.

Skills

Systems engineering leadership

System architecture

multidisciplinary team leadership

Requirements management

MBSE

Education

Degree in Systems Engineering or related field

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

At Universal Quantum, we are building the next generation of quantum computers - machines capable of solving problems once thought impossible. Our technology has the potential to transform industries from healthcare to aerospace, materials science, and beyond. As we scale from breakthrough R&D to global delivery, resilient execution becomes as critical as technical innovation.

We are looking for a Head of Systems Engineering who will be accountable for the definition, and implementation of complex quantum computing systems. The role leads multidisciplinary systems engineering across electronic, mechanical, cryogenic, vacuum, optical, software, and control domains, ensuring that product requirements are translated into coherent, testable, and deployable system solutions.

The position combines senior technical leadership, organisational development, and programme delivery. It owns system-level engineering rigour from concept through customer deployment, while building an effective, collaborative engineering organisation across UK and international locations.

What You’ll Accomplish

• Systems engineering leadership: Define and implement the systems engineering strategy, lifecycle, standards, governance, and toolset, including requirements management, traceability, modelling, simulation, configuration control, and MBSE where appropriate.
• System definition and architecture: Lead system-level design and requirements decomposition, working with Product, Architecture, Quantum, Hardware, Software, and Control teams to establish clear interfaces, budgets, specifications, trade-offs, and acceptance criteria.
• Technical assurance: Establish and chair proportionate design, readiness, test, and acceptance reviews; ensure risks, non-conformances, failure investigations, and corrective actions are managed to closure.
• Programme delivery: Maintain system-level plans, dependencies, technical risks, and performance measures so programmes achieve agreed scope, schedule, cost, quality, and performance objectives.
• Team leadership: Build, lead, and mentor multidisciplinary systems engineering and integration teams; set objectives and KPIs, develop capability, support recruitment, and establish clear accountability.
• Cross‑functional execution: Create effective working relationships across research, engineering, product, programme, quality, supply chain, and customer‑facing teams, ensuring timely decisions and transparent communication.
• Integration, verification, and validation: Contribute to the definition of the verification and test strategyfor integrated assembly and systems.
• Quality, safety, and compliance: Ensure systems meet applicable reliability, safety, regulatory, contractual, and quality requirements, with evidence appropriate to each programme.
• Strategy and roadmap: Contribute to technical strategy and product roadmaps, identifying opportunities to improve system performance, modularity, manufacturability, serviceability, and scalability.

To be successful in this role, you must have:

• Degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Significant experience leading systems engineering activities across complex multidisciplinary hardware and software products.
• Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams within a scaling organisation.
• Strong experience owning requirements, system architecture, interfaces, integration, verification, validation, and system acceptance.
• Deep understanding of systems engineering methodologies, lifecycle models, risk management, design reviews, configuration management, and requirements management tools.
• Proven ability to align global stakeholders across research, engineering, product, and programme functions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong systems‑thinking capability and experience making sound decisions in technically challenging and ambiguous environments.

It would also be desirable, if you have:

• Experience within quantum computing or another deep‑technology environment.
• Experience in semiconductors, photonics, cryogenics, ultra‑high vacuum systems, precision electronics, or control systems.
• Experience transitioning advanced technologies from R&D into commercial products, customer deployments, or production environments.

Joining Universal Quantum means becoming part of a rapidly growing company at the forefront of one of the world's most exciting technologies. As we continue to scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of both our products and our organisation, taking on meaningful challenges with real impact. We offer an environment where talented people can grow their careers, broaden their expertise, and help solve some of the toughest engineering problems in the industry, all whilst working alongside world‑class scientists and engineers.

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful equity participation
• Flexible holiday allowance (28 days minimum)
• Flexible working
• 10% matching pension
• Generous parental support policy
• Private health / dental insurance & group life insurance
• £2,000 annual personal development budget
• Relocation support

We are committed to nurturing diversity and inclusion

At Universal Quantum, we’re passionate about working with and for all kinds of minds.

We are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, and we hold ourselves accountable through continuous improvement, transparency, and the way we design our hiring and working practices.

We welcome team members from all backgrounds and actively work to ensure everyone can flourish.