Principal or Senior Systems Engineer

Navantia UK; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career development opportunities

Lead ILS activities

Collaborative workplace

Company pension

31 days holiday

Life assurance

Job summary

Navantia UK is seeking a Principal or Senior Systems Engineer to lead end-to-end systems engineering for advanced naval platforms in Bristol. You will shape requirements, architecture, and V&V strategies across complex programmes, and drive compliance with naval standards.

The role requires strong MBSE experience, governance of interfaces, and the ability to mentor colleagues while engaging senior stakeholders. Hybrid office-based work in Bristol with international collaboration is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience in naval/marine systems engineering.
• Ownership of architecture, requirements, interfaces and configuration control.
• MBSE experience for decision support.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across disciplines.
• Keen to work in regulated, safety/assurance-led environments.
• BPSS security checks eligibility may be required.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end requirements capture and management—validated, traceable and maintained through the lifecycle.
• Set the systems engineering approach (SEMP), governance and lifecycle strategy for complex naval programmes.
• Define and lead the Verification & Validation strategy, methods and acceptance criteria.
• Lead development and control of system/subsystem specifications and interface definitions.
• Create and govern architecture modelling (use cases, functional/logical/physical architectures, behaviour and data flows).
• Strengthen configuration and traceability in the PLM environment (Siemens Teamcentre) across requirements, architectures and V&V artefacts.
• Build compliance evidence against naval ship rules, legislation and international standards.
• Provide technical leadership - mentor others and steer decisions with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Systems engineering

Architecture ownership

MBSE

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Security clearance

Education

BSc in Systems/Electrical/Control Engineering

Master’s/INCOSE CSEP/ESEP

Tools

Siemens Teamcenter

Job description

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, energy and maritime ambitions. We’re doing this by creating state-of-the-art sovereign defence capabilities, investing in the UK to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state-owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history. In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well-positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK.

Principal or Senior Systems Engineer - Advanced Naval Platforms

Help shape next-generation ship designs. You’ll lead systems engineering across requirements, architecture, configuration and V&V - turning complex stakeholder needs into clear, traceable engineering evidence from concept through acceptance.

What you’ll do

• Own end-to-end requirements capture and management—validated, traceable and maintained through the lifecycle.
• Set the systems engineering approach (SEMP), governance and lifecycle strategy for complex naval programmes.
• Define and lead the Verification & Validation strategy, methods and acceptance criteria.
• Lead development and control of system/subsystem specifications and interface definitions.
• Create and govern architecture modelling (use cases, functional/logical/physical architectures, behaviour and data flows).
• Strengthen configuration and traceability in the PLM environment (Siemens Teamcentre) across requirements, architectures and V&V artefacts.
• Build compliance evidence against naval ship rules, legislation and international standards.
• Provide technical leadership - mentor others and steer decisions with internal and external stakeholders.

What you’ll bring

• Strong, hands-on systems engineering experience in naval/marine (or similarly regulated, safety/assurance-led environments).
• Confidence owning architecture, requirements, interfaces, configuration control and change management.
• MBSE experience (and a pragmatic approach to modelling for decision support).
• Comfort working across disciplines and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Degree in Systems/Electrical/Control Engineering (or related). Master’s and/or INCOSE CSEP/ESEP (or equivalent) is a plus.
• Exposure to digital technologies (automation, autonomy, digital twins, AI, predictive diagnostics, smart maintenance) is welcome.
• Ability to complete BPSS security checks; eligibility for SC clearance may be required depending on project.

Standard office environment in Bristol, with occasional travel/overnight stays depending on programme needs.

Competitive salary and benefits package

• Hybrid working, typically three days per week in the office
• Career development opportunities within a global organisation
• The chance to lead ILS activities on strategically important naval and government programmes
• A collaborative and inclusive workplace where expertise makes a direct impact
• Company pension
• 31 days holiday
• Life assurance

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.