Principal Systems Engineer

AtkinsRéalis Group; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead critical defence, nuclear and infrastructure programmes across the UK. You will direct systems engineering activities, shape architecture across lifecycle stages, and mentor engineers while collaborating with senior client stakeholders.

You’ll guide multidisciplinary teams, apply digital engineering and ensure technical assurance, all within a hybrid working environment and flexible delivery model.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in a relevant STEM discipline, or equivalent experience, with CEng, CSEP or equivalent professional recognition.
• Significant systems engineering experience in complex defence, nuclear, aerospace, energy or infrastructure programmes.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering lifecycles, requirements, architecture, integration, V&V and technical assurance.
• Proven technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams and complex programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of programme delivery, including risk, cost, schedule and commercial factors.
• Experience within UK Defence, Nuclear or Government environments, with knowledge of MOD acquisition and KiD.

Responsibilities

• Lead the application and tailoring of systems engineering principles, processes and standards across complex programmes and portfolios.
• Provide technical leadership and assurance across the engineering lifecycle, supporting critical decisions and delivery outcomes.
• Lead requirements engineering, architecture development, integration, verification and validation of complex systems and system-of-systems solutions.
• Apply systems thinking, engineering judgement and appropriate lifecycle approaches to manage technical complexity, risk and delivery objectives.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and technical workstreams, providing direction, mentoring and support to engineers at all levels.
• Support the effective use of digital engineering and modelling approaches to improve understanding, communication and decision‑making.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, suppliers and stakeholders, acting as a senior technical advisor and supporting business growth activities.
• Contribute to Systems Engineering capability development through mentoring, knowledge sharing and application of the KiD.

Skills

Systems engineering

Engineering leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring

MOD acquisition

Digital engineering

Education

STEM degree + CEng/CSEP

Tools

KiD framework

SysML

MODAF

ISO 15288

TOGAF

Job description

Overview

Lead the systems that protect the UK's future. Are you looking for a role where your expertise can shape nationally significant programmes and influence critical engineering decisions? At AtkinsRéalis, we help our clients solve some of the world's most complex engineering and programme delivery challenges. Our success comes from the diversity, expertise and passion of our people, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

Join us and you'll become part of a collaborative and inclusive team that values fresh perspectives, technical excellence and continuous development. You'll work with some of the industry's leading experts while helping to deliver programmes that make a genuine difference to the UK's security, resilience and future capability.

We understand that great engineers need flexibility as well as challenge. That's why we offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements wherever possible, a strong commitment to wellbeing, and support for career returners looking to re-establish themselves in the profession.

As a Principal Systems Engineer within our Advanced Engineering Delivery & Consultancy (AEDC) Practice, you'll play a leading role in delivering some of the UK's most complex defence, nuclear and Critical National Infrastructure programmes. You'll work directly with senior client stakeholders, provide technical leadership across major programmes, and help shape solutions to some of the country's most challenging engineering problems.

You'll apply your systems engineering expertise across the full lifecycle, from concept development and capability definition through to integration, acceptance and operational deployment. Working across land, maritime, air, nuclear, energy and wider Critical National Infrastructure domains, you'll encounter a breadth of challenges few organisations can offer.

This role offers the opportunity to influence technical strategy, lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor future engineering leaders and contribute to the growth of one of the UK's leading Systems Engineering communities.

Projects are delivered across a range of strategically important locations, including Aldermaston, Barrow-in-Furness, Faslane and Devonport, providing exposure to programmes that have a direct impact on national security and resilience.

As a Principal Systems Engineer, You Will

• Lead the application and tailoring of systems engineering principles, processes and standards across complex programmes and portfolios.
• Provide technical leadership and assurance across the engineering lifecycle, supporting critical decisions and delivery outcomes.
• Lead requirements engineering, architecture development, integration, verification and validation of complex systems and system-of-systems solutions.
• Apply systems thinking, engineering judgement and appropriate lifecycle approaches to manage technical complexity, risk and delivery objectives.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and technical workstreams, providing direction, mentoring and support to engineers at all levels.
• Support the effective use of digital engineering and modelling approaches to improve understanding, communication and decision‑making.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, suppliers and stakeholders, acting as a senior technical advisor and supporting business growth activities.
• Contribute to Systems Engineering capability development through mentoring, knowledge sharing and application of the MOD acquisition framework, including use of KiD.

About You

• We're looking for experienced engineering leaders who combine strong technical capability with the ability to influence, mentor and deliver results in complex environments. If your experience doesn't perfectly match every requirement but you believe you can add value, we'd still encourage you to apply.
• Degree-qualified in a relevant STEM discipline, or equivalent experience, with CEng, CSEP or equivalent professional recognition.
• Significant systems engineering experience in complex defence, nuclear, aerospace, energy or infrastructure programmes.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering lifecycles, requirements, architecture, integration, V&V and technical assurance.
• Proven technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams and complex programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of programme delivery, including risk, cost, schedule and commercial factors.
• Experience within UK Defence, Nuclear or Government environments, with knowledge of MOD acquisition and KiD.
• Familiarity with digital engineering, modelling tools and relevant standards (e.g. ISO 15288, TOGAF, MODAF, SysML), with experience supporting capability growth and business development.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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