Head of Systems Engineering

Blue Bear Systems Group Ltd; Oakley; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Workplace pension with 8% company

Private medical insurance

Group income protection

Death in service insurance

Share matching scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Plus more

Job summary

Saab UK seeks a senior Systems Engineering Leader to act as the primary authority for the Systems Engineering discipline within the BlueBear Business Unit. You will define the technical vision, governance, and methodologies to design, integrate, and verify complex aerospace and defence solutions in alignment with Lifecycle Management processes for UK MoD and international partners.

You will lead a team of engineers, drive MBSE and digital transformation, and ensure compliance with safety,

Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams in defence/aerospace
• Knowledge of the full systems engineering lifecycle
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive engineering excellence

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 activities including bids, design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), and audits.
• Capability Development: Drive the continuous improvement of departmental capabilities, including MBSE and digital transformation initiatives.
• Technical Authority: Serve as the senior escalation point for complex technical issues, resolving architectural conflicts and ensuring mitigation of emergent behaviours at a System of Systems level.
• Departmental Management: Lead and mentor a team of Systems Engineers and SMEs, managing resource allocation, recruitment, and succession planning.
• V&V Strategy: Oversee the creation of robust Verification, Validation, and Qualification strategies to ensure safety, security, and performance requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with IPT leads and external stakeholders to elicit requirements and influence roadmaps.
• Process Standards: Ensure activities adhere to INCOSE, ISO 15288 and internal policies

Skills

Leadership

Systems expertise

Communication

Business acumen

Education

Systems Engineering degree

Masters or PhD preferred

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

Introduction 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. What you will be part of Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 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.

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.

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.

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:

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 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.

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.

At Saab, we constantly look ahead and push boundaries for what is considered technically possible. We collaborate with colleagues around the world who all share our challenge – to make the world a safer place. Saab is a global defense and security company operating in the fields of air, land and naval defense, civil security and commercial aeronautics. We number approximately 26,100 employees and have operations on all continents. Technologically we are leaders in many areas, and one-fifth of our earnings are spent on research and development. Saab is a company where we see diversity as an asset and offer unlimited opportunities for advancing in your career. We are also a company that respects each person’s needs and encourage employees to lead a balanced, rewarding life beyond work.

Saab values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran, or disability status.