Principal Consultant Systems Engineering

UK Space Jobs; Chippenham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Private health

Life assurance

Holiday purchase scheme

Job summary

UK Space Jobs seeks a Principal Consultant to lead the Systems Engineering practice on major defence and space-related projects. Hybrid working in Chippenham or Portsmouth, with a strong emphasis on MBSE, architecture development, and lifecycle management.

The role combines client delivery, team leadership, and strategic bid input, requiring broad systems engineering expertise and a proven track record in high-integrity domains.

Qualifications

• Experience leading major consulting projects in defence, energy, or health sectors.
• Proven ability to develop technical solutions and deliver client value.
• Ability to identify opportunities, bid delivery, and expand client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead major consulting projects with emphasis on technical excellence and client satisfaction.
• Provide strategic systems engineering guidance for defence programs and architectures.
• Drive business development by identifying opportunities and drafting bids.
• Mentor and develop internal capability across teams.

Skills

Leading major consulting projects

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring teams

Analytical and problem-solving

Business development

Communication with senior stakeholders

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Tools

MBSE

Job description

Principal Consultant - Systems Engineering

Salary - £60K-£80K, competitive benefits including - pension, private health, life assurance, additional holiday purchase scheme to name but a few.

Location – Chippenham, Wiltshire , or Portsmouth , Hants

Hybrid working

Our client is a rapidly growing and successful technical consultancy firm. Their team is dedicated to delivering high-quality, end-to-end consultancy services, ranging from requirements management and modelling and simulation through to P3M. They operate across multiple sectors, including defence, energy, and health. They are looking for Principal Consultant to join their Systems Engineering team as they go through their next phase of growth.

The System Engineering function is responsible for understanding clients challenges and finding solutions to their problems. Their capabilities cover the full lifecycle from Requirements Engineering; Architecture Development; Systems Analysis, Analysis of Alternatives; Integration Verification Validation and Testing; through to Sustainment; Disposal and Replacement. Their staff that are active members of INCOSE, they can provide technical leaders and are a trusted service that is based on best practice and places clients thinking and systems approaches at the heart of any project.

They are currently working with several clients in the Telecommunications, Network Systems, Military C4I Systems, Digital Engineering, Space Systems, Digital Twins area. A strong defence background within systems engineering consultancy is the main requirement for this role

The Role Of Principal Systems Engineering Consultant

You will be expected to lead on Major consulting projects ensuring technical excellence is delivered and the client’s expectations are met. Your role will involve elements of team leadership, client delivery, providing technical expertise, and business development contributing to the identification of opportunities and providing input to bids.

Responsibilities Of Principal Systems Engineer Consultant Will Include

• Leading major consulting projects, ensuring technical excellence and client satisfaction.
• Providing strategic advice on systems engineering approaches for defence programs.
• Leading the development of architectures, system integration strategies, and technical roadmaps.
• Leading business development by identifying opportunities, contributing to bids, and expanding client relationships.
• Acting as a subject matter expert in systems engineering disciplines such as model-based systems engineering (MBSE), capability development, and technical assurance.
• Mentoring and developing internal capability, supporting training and professional development initiatives.

Experience Required For Role Of Principal Systems Engineer Consultant

You will have an extensive experience of systems engineering in a consulting setting demonstrating capability analysis techniques, and the proven ability to develop technical solutions to business problems. Candidates will require expertise in some or all of the following areas:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative and practical solutions for client challenges.
• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, including working with UK MOD, defence primes, and government bodies.
• Ability to lead and mentor teams, providing technical oversight and professional development to junior and mid-level consultants.
• Experience developing and implementing best practices in systems engineering, shaping company methodologies and frameworks.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and presenting complex technical information to a wide range of audiences.
• Strong business acumen and commerciality
• Lead business development by identifying opportunities, bid delivery, and expanding client relationships.
• Deep technical knowledge in systems engineering within defence or similar high-integrity domains.
• Experience leading technical teams and projects within the defence, aerospace, or security sectors.
• Familiarity with defence acquisition frameworks
• Educated to degree level, or equivalent relevant experience.

Other Requirements

Candidates must have an existing right to live and work in the UK.

Ideally with current UK SC or DV Security Clearance.

Keywords – Systems Engineer, Systems Engineering, Defence, Telecommunications, C41, Network Systems, Modelling, Simulation, Digital Twins, Space Systems, Bids, Simulation, Requirements Management, Team Leader., Consultant, INCOSE Engineering Architecture Development, Systems Analysis, Model Based Systems Engineering, Space Systems, Satellite Communications