Principal Systems Engineer

Expleo; Barnstaple; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative environment

ExpleoAcademy training

Competitive benefits

Team-centric culture

Job summary

Expleo is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead defence and maritime systems work packages across the full engineering lifecycle. The role involves hands-on support, FAT, verification, and ensuring compliance with requirements, with eligibility for UK Security Clearance and a hybrid pattern requiring two days per week at the Barnstaple site.

You will mentor engineers, manage requirements lifecycle, and contribute to bids and delivery strategies, coordinating with customers and suppliers

Qualifications

• Degree in Systems/Electronic/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering or physics, or similar.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead defined systems engineering work packages to cost, schedule and quality targets.
• Provide technical leadership within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Manage lifecycle requirements: capture, analysis, traceability, verification, acceptance.

Skills

IBM DOORS

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Requirements management

Traceability

Problem solving

Engineering documentation

Communication

Delivery priorities

Education

Engineering degree

UK Security Clearance eligibility

Tools

Cameo

Enterprise Architect

Job description

Overview

Expleo is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to support the growth of Expleo's Marine business unit. The successful candidate will provide systems engineering and technical leadership expertise across complex defence and maritime products, with responsibility for progressing defined work packages through design, integration, qualification, test and acceptance.

Working within a multi-disciplinary engineering environment, you will support the development and delivery of complex products across the full engineering lifecycle. The role requires a practical, hands‑on approach, including supporting Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), qualification activities, integration, fault investigation and the production of objective evidence to demonstrate compliance with requirements.

This role requires eligibility for UK Security Clearance. Candidates may start following successful BPSS screening but must be able to obtain and maintain SC clearance. Hybrid working is available, with attendance at the Barnstaple site required two days per week. Occasional travel to other customer or Expleo locations may be required.

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of defined systems engineering work packages and deliver them to agreed cost, schedule and quality expectations.
• Provide technical leadership within a multi-disciplinary engineering team, supporting and mentoring engineers where required.
• Manage requirements throughout the engineering lifecycle, including capture, analysis, decomposition, traceability, verification and acceptance.
• Develop and maintain systems engineering artefacts, including specifications, interface definitions, compliance evidence, V&V plans and technical reports.
• Support system architecture, design development, trade studies and technical decision-making.
• Plan and support integration, verification, validation and qualification activities.
• Provide hands‑on support to FAT and other formal test activities, including test readiness, procedure review, witnessing, fault investigation, evidence capture and close‑out of issues.
• Assess test results and qualification evidence against requirements, identifying gaps, risks and corrective actions.
• Support the transition of prototypes and development solutions into repeatable, supportable products.
• Contribute technical inputs, estimates and delivery approaches to bids and work package planning.
• Work closely with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve technical issues and maintain delivery progress.
• Apply appropriate engineering governance, configuration control, change management and assurance processes.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Systems Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status, or evidence of working towards professional registration.
• Relevant systems engineering training or certification, such as INCOSE ASEP, CSEP or equivalent.
• Training or certification in requirements management, MBSE, test or qualification methods.

Essential skills

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience using IBM DOORS or a comparable requirements management tool.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles and their application across the engineering lifecycle.
• Ability to lead technical work packages and provide clear direction within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Requirements capture, analysis, decomposition, traceability and verification planning.
• Practical understanding of integration, verification, validation, qualification and acceptance.
• Ability to review test procedures, support formal testing and assess evidence against requirements.
• Competence in technical problem solving, root‑cause investigation and risk‑based decision-making.
• Clear technical writing and the ability to produce concise, auditable engineering documentation.
• Effective communication with customers, suppliers, engineering specialists and project stakeholders.
• Ability to balance technical quality with cost, schedule and delivery priorities.

Desired skills

Ideally candidates will be able to demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience with Model‑Based Systems Engineering and tools such as Cameo, Enterprise Architect or equivalent.
• Understanding of system, subsystem and equipment‑level interfaces across hardware and software.
• Knowledge of configuration management, engineering change control and design assurance.
• Familiarity with defence standards, marine systems or other regulated and safety‑critical environments.

Experience

Required experience

The successful candidate will have experience of:

• Delivering systems engineering activities across multiple stages of the engineering lifecycle.
• Leading or owning technically complex work packages with limited supervision.
• Requirements management and the production of traceable verification and qualification evidence.
• System integration, formal test, FAT, qualification or acceptance activities in a practical engineering environment.
• Working directly with engineering teams to investigate test failures, resolve issues and achieve compliant outcomes.
• Working with customers, suppliers and multi-disciplinary stakeholders to progress delivery.
• Producing and reviewing specifications, test documentation, technical reports and assurance evidence.

Desirable experience

Ideally candidates will possess experience in one or more of the following:

• Defence, naval, maritime, aerospace or another highly regulated engineering sector.
• Development and qualification of complex electro‑mechanical, electronic or software‑enabled products.
• Taking prototype or development systems through integration and into production or in‑service use.
• Bid support, engineering estimates and work package generation.
• Technical leadership, mentoring or delegated design authority responsibilities.

What do I need before I apply

• Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain SC clearance. The successful candidate may begin work following BPSS screening, subject to assignment and customer approval.
• Candidates must be able to attend the Barnstaple site two days per week and travel to other sites when required.
• Some assignments may require attendance at customer, secure or classified sites.

Benefits

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and ourpeers through good times and challenges
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects
• ExpleoAcademy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses
• Competitive company benefits
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo

• As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:
• Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
• Communicating and promoting vacancies
• Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
• Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
• Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work at least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”.

We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive