Principal Systems Engineer

Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA.; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contractor is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to support the Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carrier program. You will lead engineering activities, ensure compliance with user requirements, and work with cross-functional teams. Essential qualifications include a degree in engineering and a background in automotive or defence engineering. This role offers a hybrid work model and competitive compensation.

Benefits

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP and health consultations

Employee share scheme

Holiday Trading

Paid leave for volunteering

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in military vehicles engineering is essential.
• Ability to lead complex systems engineering activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering activities across the full project lifecycle.
• Define and manage system requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Background in automotive and/or defence engineering

Proficiency in vehicle systems design, integration, testing, and acceptance

Education

Degree in an engineering discipline

Job description

Principal Systems Engineer

Location: Bristol, GB, BS11 0YA; Devonport, Plymouth, GB, PL2 2BG

Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid

Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer

Compensation: From £59,000 negotiable depending on experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF66794

Shape the Future of Defence Engineering

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world. As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will support our work on the Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carrier vehicle programme, following our agreement to be Patria’s UK build partner. This is a high-profile opportunity to join a major defence programme, contributing to the delivery of a proven, NATO-backed platform for the British Army, at our Bristol or Plymouth site.

The role

As a Principal Systems Engineer, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. You’ll be at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge vehicle systems for defence applications. This is your opportunity to lead complex systems engineering activities that ensure our military vehicles meet performance expectations, comply with user requirements, and adhere to industry standards and regulations.

Day-to-day you’ll be:

• Leading systems engineering activities across the full project lifecycle
• Defining and managing system requirements, ensuring traceability and compliance
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate subsystems and components
• Conducting trade-off analyses to optimise performance, cost, and schedule
• Developing and maintaining system-level documentation and test plans

This role is full time, 37.5 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements.

Essential experience of the Principal Systems Engineer

• Background in automotive and/or defence engineering, especially military vehicles
• Proficiency in vehicle systems design, integration, testing, and acceptance

Qualifications for the Principal Systems Engineer

• Degree in an engineering discipline

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

What we offer

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• “Be Kind Day” enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

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