Principal Systems Engineer

Thales; Stockport; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in defense and security solutions seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to manage complex systems engineering processes. This role involves significant team management, technical leadership, and client engagement, ensuring compliance with company standards while working on projects that impact national security.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Career development opportunities

Inclusive recruitment process

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a systems engineering management function.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to manage a complex project through defined design processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Systems Engineering Process for a major project.
• Develop and manage requirements specifications.
• Provide technical direction and leadership.

Skills

Project management

Systems engineering

Stakeholder engagement

Education

HND/Engineering Degree or equivalent

Tools

DOORS

Polarion

JIRA

Job description

Thales Stockport, England, United Kingdom

Principal Systems Engineer

Thales Stockport, England, United Kingdom

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Primary Purpose of the Role:

Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensor systems and decision superiority. We’re helping navies across the globe keep the world, our friends, our families and all of us safe.

In Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW), we put huge numbers of sensors on every submarine, which locate and provide data about other submarines and objects. Our world-leading sonar technology is used across the entire UK submarine fleet.

The primary purpose of this role is to manage the Systems Engineering Process to company and international standards for a major project. Includes significant team management responsibility to provide direction to a team of engineers through requirements management definition, design, implementation and validation until delivery of the system.

You must be able to provide systems engineering decision authority.

Principal Relationships:

As part of the Thales Systems Engineering process you will interact with the following key roles:

• Engineers at all levels
• Bid team members
• Project team members
• Testing team members
• Installation team members
• Project Planners
• Sales and Marketing
• Supply Chain
• Commercial
• Major Stakeholders / Client
  
  
  

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

The list below is not exhaustive, nor will individuals be expected to be able to undertake all of them. They are given as a guide as to the expected duties of the grade.

• Develop and manage requirements specifications at both the system and subsystem levels.
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of the development lifecycle and lifecycle products.
• Interface with clients to define the content and format of test specifications.
• Define and authorise test specifications.
• Conduct impact analysis and manage variations.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and resolve related issues.
• Define and authorize design descriptions and verification requirements.
• Provide technical advice to the Engineering Group Manager on technical matters and management issues pertinent to the Systems Engineering Group.
• Offer technical direction and leadership to the Systems Engineering community.
• Engage with key stakeholders effectively.
• Establish and maintain a structured Systems Engineering process and activities.
• Provide detailed technical specifications.
• Offer assistance and guidance to Project Systems Engineers regarding their responsibilities and design decisions.
• Prepare resource plans and budgets for the Systems Engineering Group, managing the budget to ensure project objectives are met within financial constraints.
• Approve estimates for project activities and manage the Systems Engineering Group to ensure work is completed on time and within budget.
• Develop and train Systems Engineering personnel to ensure a qualified staff is available to perform and lead the design and requirements development for projects and products, including acceptance requirements.
• Represent the Systems Engineering Group on the change control committee, reviewing change proposals and approving Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) on behalf of the engineering department.
• Stay informed of technical developments both within and outside of the company.
• Identify training, development, and performance needs through the Annual Check-in and Development Check-in processes for the Systems Engineering community under your supervision.
• Assist the Engineering Group Manager in strengthening the engineering capabilities of the team.
  
  
  

Key Performance Indicators against Responsibilities and Tasks:

This role is continually monitored for performance and as such some of the following typical Key performance indicators (KPI’s) will be used

• Financial performance of the System Engineering team under your control.
• Timely delivery team objectives, appraisals and development actions.
• Quality of work produced against agreed standards
• Delivery to timescales
• Delivery to budget
• Performance against Thales key values
  
  
  

Expected Competence Level

Skills:

• Able to use a range of IT tools.
• Has a sound ability to use System Engineering tools (e.g. DOORS, Polarion, MBSE, JIRA etc.).
• Has knowledge of configuration control processes.
• Can manage a complex project through a defined design process and is able to tailor CHORUS2 to project needs.
• Can define and use metrics as part of quality assurance and control change to re-model a System Engineering process.
• A working knowledge of project plans
• Has knowledge of Engineering Safety Management
  
  
  

Experience:

• The Principal Systems Engineer is the technical focal point for the System Engineering process and must be able to resolve all issues, problems, questions and conflicts in the entire system. This requires frequent handling of new and unusual issues therefore a proven record of working in a Systems Engineering Management function is required.
• The post holder should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate at all levels in the spoken and written word. A good outward appearance, self-motivation and the ability to work under pressure are vital.
• The success of the Systems Engineering job family relies on the interaction of its engineers at all levels, therefore evidence of team working is required.
  
  
  

Values & Behaviours:

As our business continues to evolve and grow, it’s important that we have clear accountability for our respective roles and what it takes to be successful. Therefore, everyone is expected to develop their behaviours along three key factors, each pf which have two streams as shown below:

• Think Big:
• Imagine the Future: See ahead to design new, different and simplified solutions that will anticipate and address tomorrow’s business needs and challenges.
• Inspire to Engage: Shares a compelling vision, leads with integrity and engages stakeholders.
  
  
  
  

• Make It Happen:
• Deliver User-centric Solutions: Create customer intimacy, listen fully and be accountable for creating value for the client and for Thales.
• Act with Agility: Challenges the status quo, takes smart risks and fosters continuous improvement.
  
  
  
  

• Together:
• Grow Others and Self: Invest energy to develop self and others, ensuring individual and organizational potential is maximised.
• Include Others: Empower others, embrace diversity in partnering beyond organizational boundaries to achieve common goals.
  
  
  

We want a safe and positive environment for all of us to grow, share knowledge and support each other so that we can all work at our best and be proud of our achievements.

Desirable Qualifications and Certification:

• HND/Engineering Degree or equivalent.
  
  
  

Essential:

• Please note that all applicants must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum. Please see the following link for more information: UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Have attained or working towards an appropriate professional status (CEng) or equivalent.
• Please note, we are sadly not able to consider any person who holds dual citizenship.
  
  
  

Financial / Budgetary Responsibility:

• The post holder will be expected to deliver designs/projects to an agreed budget.
  
  
  

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Information Technology

• Industries

  Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing and Defense and Space Manufacturing

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