Principal System Engineer

Addition; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Addition is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer in the UK Defence sector to lead Systems Engineering across complex programmes. You will set technical direction for systems, hardware, software and firmware, develop and assure requirements and architectures, and lead reviews and stakeholder engagement.

The role emphasizes senior technical leadership, mentoring engineers and ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC/IEEE standards, with SC clearance eligibility and willingness to travel within the UK.

Qualifications

• Significant Systems Engineering experience across the full lifecycle and V-model.
• Proven experience in requirements engineering, systems design and technical documentation.
• Strong leadership and ability to mentor engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead Systems Engineering activities across projects and work packages.
• Develop and assure requirements, architectures, designs and Systems Engineering artefacts.
• Provide technical direction across systems, hardware, software and firmware.
• Lead technical and design reviews.
• Support customer and supplier engagement.
• Contribute to bids, proposals, estimates and technical risk management.
• Mentor and develop Systems Engineers.
• Support the ongoing development of the organisation’s wider engineering capability.
• Ensure Systems Engineering activities align with relevant standards and programme requirements.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Education

Engineering/Mathematics/Physics degree

Tools

DOORS

UML

Enterprise Architect

SysML

Job description

Clearance: Eligibility for SC clearance and willingness to obtain and maintain DV clearance

We’re partnering with a leading organisation within the UK Defence sector to appoint an experienced Principal Systems Engineer.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior engineering professional to provide technical leadership across the full Systems Engineering lifecycle, supporting the delivery of complex, security-critical programmes and working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

The Opportunity

As Principal Systems Engineer, you’ll lead Systems Engineering activities across complex projects and work packages, providing technical direction across systems, hardware, software and firmware.

You’ll play a key role in developing and assuring requirements, architectures, designs and technical documentation, while supporting design reviews, stakeholder engagement and technical risk management.

This is a senior position requiring strong Systems Engineering expertise, confident technical leadership and the ability to mentor and develop other engineers.

Key Responsibilities

You’ll play a central role in delivering complex engineering programmes by:

• Leading Systems Engineering activities across projects and work packages.
• Developing and assuring requirements, architectures, designs and Systems Engineering artefacts.
• Providing technical direction across systems, hardware, software and firmware.
• Leading technical and design reviews.
• Supporting customer and supplier engagement.
• Contributing to bids, proposals, estimates and technical risk management.
• Mentoring and developing Systems Engineers.
• Supporting the continued development of the organisation’s wider engineering capability.
• Ensuring Systems Engineering activities align with relevant standards and programme requirements.

About You

You’ll be an experienced Systems Engineer with significant knowledge of the full engineering lifecycle and the confidence to lead technical activity across complex, multidisciplinary programmes.

You will also have:

• Significant Systems Engineering experience across the full lifecycle and V-model.
• A strong understanding of ISO, IEC and IEEE Systems Engineering standards, including ISO 15288.
• Proven experience in requirements engineering, systems design and technical documentation.
• Experience leading Systems Engineering activities or managing Systems Engineering teams.
• Practical experience with DOORS, UML, Enterprise Architect and SysML.
• A background in hardware, software or firmware development, ideally within an embedded environment.
• A degree in Engineering, Mathematics or Physics, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• Strong technical leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• INCOSE ASEP or CSEP accreditation, NCSC experience or recognised subject-matter expertise would be advantageous.

Additional Requirements

• You must be eligible for SC clearance and willing and able to obtain and maintain DV clearance.
• You must be willing to travel within the UK when required.
• A clean driving licence is required.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a senior technical leadership position within the UK Defence sector, contributing to complex and security-critical engineering programmes.

In return, you’ll benefit from:

• A permanent, full-time position.
• A senior role with significant technical influence.
• The opportunity to lead Systems Engineering activity across complex programmes.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary engineering teams and advanced systems environments.
• The opportunity to mentor other engineers and contribute to wider engineering capability.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.