Principal Systems Engineer

MBDA; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

MBDA seeks a Systems Engineer to deliver expertise in designing complex weapons capabilities for the UK Armed Forces. The role involves engaging with multidisciplinary teams, developing engineering techniques, and offers opportunities for leadership and career progression. A competitive salary and various benefits, including a company bonus and flexible leave, are provided.

Benefits

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension contribution up to 14%

Paid overtime opportunities

Flexi Leave up to 15 additional days

Enhanced parental leave up to 26 weeks

Subsidised meals and free parking

Training and development opportunities

Relocation assistance available

Qualifications

• Experience in systems engineering, particularly in requirements analysis and system architecture.
• Broader engineering management experience is advantageous.
• Ability to lead work packages and manage technical relationships.

Responsibilities

• Deliver systems engineering expertise to projects focused on complex weapons capabilities.
• Engage with partners and coordinate technology specialists.
• Develop advanced systems engineering techniques.

Skills

Requirements and Use Case analysis

Concept assessment and trade studies

System architecture design

Performance assessment

Verification, Validation, and Certification

Model-based engineering techniques

Job description

As part of our Systems Design Emerging Portfolio and Capability function, you will deliver systems engineering expertise to projects focused on the front end of the product life cycle, designing the latest Complex Weapons capabilities for the UK and partner nation Armed Forces in response to advanced threats across all domains (Air, Land, Sea).

Salary: Up to £60,000 (dependent on experience)

Location: Bristol, Stevenage, or Bolton (Relocation assistance available)

Hybrid working: Typically 3 to 4 days per week on-site, depending on workload

Security Clearance: British Citizen or Dual UK national with British citizenship. All successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we offer:

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (performance-based, varies annually)
• Pension: Up to 14% total contribution (employer and employee)
• Overtime: Paid overtime opportunities
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Enhanced parental leave: Up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave, with additional support for paternity, neonatal, and fertility treatments
• Facilities: Subsidised meals, free parking, and more on-site amenities
• Training and development: Excellent opportunities for career progression and skill enhancement
• Relocation assistance: Possible support available

The opportunity:

You will gain broad engineering experience, engaging with partners, coordinating technology specialists, and developing advanced systems engineering techniques, whether embedded in a multidisciplinary team or leading individual work packages.

Our people management opportunities allow you to develop leadership skills and contribute to training future engineers.

What we're looking for:

Systems engineering experience in areas such as:

• Requirements and Use Case analysis
• Concept assessment and trade studies
• System architecture design and functional modelling
• Performance assessment and systems behaviour analysis
• Verification, Validation, and Certification
• Model-based engineering techniques, including MBSE

Experience in broader engineering management, especially leading work packages, integrating complex activities, or managing technical relationships with clients or suppliers, is advantageous.

Our company:

MBDA is a leading defence organisation committed to supporting national security and sovereignty. We promote diversity and inclusion through employee-led networks such as Gender Equality, Pride, and others. We encourage open dialogue and support throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK), and Glassdoor, or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.