Head of Systems Engineering

SAAB; Ideford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Pension scheme with company contribute

Private medical insurance

Group income protection

Death in service insurance

Share matching scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking a Senior Systems Engineering Leader to act as the primary authority for the Systems Engineering discipline. You will define the technical vision, govern methodologies, and ensure alignment with Lifecycle Management across defence and international partners.

Lead a multi-disciplinary team, drive MBSE and digital transformation, and oversee IVVQ strategies while engaging stakeholders and ensuring compliance with INCOSE and ISO standards.

Qualifications

• Leadership of multi-disciplinary teams (10+ staff) in defence or aerospace.
• Deep knowledge of the full systems engineering lifecycle and integration.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and change leadership.
• Experience with budgets, bids, and risk/opportunity management.

Responsibilities

• Set the technical direction for the systems engineering department and promote systems thinking.
• Oversee LCM processes, design reviews, audits, and IVVQ strategies.
• Lead capability development, MBSE adoption, and digital transformation.
• Act as senior technical authority to resolve complex issues at system level.
• Manage recruitment, resourcing, and succession planning for the team.
• Engage IPT leads and external partners to shape roadmaps.
• Ensure compliance with INCOSE, ISO 15288 and internal standards.

Skills

Leadership

Systems expertise

Communication

Business acumen

Education

Degree in Systems Engineering

CEng status

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

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.

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.

Essential Skills

• 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.

Desirable Skills

• 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 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.

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

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.

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.