Principal Systems Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Christchurch; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 76,000; Part time

Job summary

A global defense contractor is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to develop radar systems used in the defense industry. You'll tackle technical challenges, lead system design, and collaborate with engineers. The position offers a salary of up to £75,900 with flexible and hybrid working options. Ideal candidates have experience in Systems Engineering and a strong understanding of signal processing and object classification algorithms.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Enhanced annual leave allowance

Company contributed Share Incentive Plan

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Good understanding of factors affecting real-world performance of sensing systems.
• Demonstrates understanding and experience of Systems Engineering.
• Experience of presenting both technical and non-technical information.

Responsibilities

• Develop solutions for complex Radar Systems' challenges.
• Conduct system design analysis to manage system parameters.
• Lead decomposition of requirements at system and sub-system levels.

Skills

Signal processing

Target track extraction

Object classification algorithms

System and sensor resource optimisation

Systems Engineering standards knowledge

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer

Location: Isle of Wight – Cowes, Chelmsford – Great Baddow or Portsmouth – BroadOak
Salary: Up to £75,900 commensurate with skills and experience. Part time & accruing hours available.

Put yourself into a dynamic Principal Systems Engineering role at the forefront of real world demands in the defence industry. Alongside ensuring operational excellence for our existing products, there will be the opportunity to develop next radar products to counter emerging threats and contribute to our strategy for new technology. Your day-to-day will be exciting and diverse by applying the principles of Systems Engineering across the entire engineering development lifecycle as you join in developing radar systems used by those who serve and protect us.

Responsibilities

• Developing novel solutions to evolving technical challenges and emerging issues for complex Radar Systems that our customers and end-user communities are facing
• Applying a breadth of knowledge, skills and experience of Systems Engineering principles, techniques and governance to steer and develop technical solutions and resolve engineering issues
• Conducting system design analysis to manage trade-offs of system parameters to characterise and specify robust product design
• Leading the decomposition of requirements to system and sub-system level and manage these in an approved toolset such as IBM DOORS Next
• Be a technical focus point with a holistic understanding of a whole system solution leading analysis activities and system design decisions and providing guidance to own team
• Collaborating with specialists across different engineering disciplines including electronics, electrical, mechanical and software to direct and realise overarching system design solutions
• Directing and undertaking system integration, test planning and execution
• Defining and articulating system acceptance strategies and acceptance evidence demonstrating system performance across a wide range of operational scenarios to internal and external stakeholders
• Through these activities you will build your personal profile with senior stakeholders and grow a diverse knowledge base in engineering

Qualifications

• Essential: A good understanding in some of the following subject areas; signal processing, target track extraction, object classification algorithms, system and sensor resource optimisation
• Essential: A good understanding of factors that can affect the real-world performance of sensing systems and how these can impact the accuracy and timeliness of measurements in order to meet challenging design objectives and requirements
• Essential: Demonstrates understanding and experience of Systems Engineering which could include knowledge of Systems Engineering standards (e.g., ISO 15288)
• Essential: Experience of presenting both technical and non-technical information in a formal setting

Benefits

• You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and a Company contributed Share Incentive Plan
• Flexible working, employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and employee discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive

Team and role context

The Radar Systems Engineering team: You will be working as a Principal Systems Engineer within our close-knit multi-function radar team of inter-disciplinary engineers, evolving our radar portfolio of existing and brand-new radar products to address emerging and future threats.

This role offers opportunities to enhance your skills and career within a global business, with support to grow knowledge in contemporary and cutting-edge Radar techniques, and potential to develop responsibilities in technical leadership. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements are available.

Working arrangements and location

Our workplace in Cowes is an easily accessible commute from Southampton with a regular foot passenger ferry and BAE shuttle service from the ferry terminal to site. We offer flexibility with working hours, depending on role and location, including part-time hours and accruing hours as well as flexibility around start and finish times to balance life at work, on site and at home.

Equity, inclusion and security

Why BAE Systems? This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must at a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Many roles also require higher levels of Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 26th September 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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