Lead Test Architect – Aerospace & Defence Systems

Thales Group; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Hybrid working options

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Life cover

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Thales Group seeks an experienced Test Design Engineer with a focus on Test Solutions to define and deliver innovative, robust, and scalable test architectures for aerospace and defence systems.

You will align test strategies with MOD standards, programme needs, and long-term product sustainment, working at the interface between design, integration and customers. Location options include Crawley, Reading, Cheadle, Bristol, Glasgow, or any UK Thales site with hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Systems Architect/Engineer.
• Strong background in test system design & architecture.
• Experience integrating hardware, software, and COTS solutions into test.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of test solutions for complex aerospace and defence systems, ensuring compliance with MOD and industry standards.
• Define test strategies, frameworks, and architectures to support product development, verification, qualification, and in-service support.
• Translate system and customer requirements into effective test system requirements and architectures.
• Ensure test solutions integrate seamlessly with hardware, software, and system environments.
• Work closely with design engineers, test engineers, and programme managers to ensure traceability and compliance throughout the lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Contribute to bid and proposal activity, providing technical input to estimates, schedules, and solution concepts.
• Engage directly with key stakeholders to ensure alignment with defence standards, policies, and best practices.
• Drive innovation in test methods, including automation, digital twins, and model-based test approaches.

Skills

Systems Architect

Test system design

COTS integration

Stakeholder management

Lifecycle support

Test automation

Safety & IA knowledge

Job description

Thales Group seeks an experienced Test Design Engineer with a focus on Test Solutions to define and deliver innovative, robust, and scalable test architectures for aerospace and defence systems.

You will align test strategies with MOD standards, programme needs, and long-term product sustainment, working at the interface between design, integration and customers. Location options include Crawley, Reading, Cheadle, Bristol, Glasgow, or any UK Thales site with hybrid working.