Principal Systems Engineer - Defence

GTS Group Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

GTS Group Ltd is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the architecture, integration and development of complex defence electronics systems in the South West Midlands.

You will work across RF, hardware, software, FPGA and mechanical engineering, translating customer requirements into verifiable specifications and providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Significant systems engineering experience in complex engineering or product development environments.
• Experience across the full engineering lifecycle, including V-model and Agile methodologies.
• Proven ability to develop system architectures and manage technical requirements.
• Experience integrating complex hardware and software-based systems.
• Strong understanding of system-level verification and validation.
• Experience with RF systems or related electronic technologies.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex systems across hardware, software and FPGA domains.
• Strong technical leadership and communication skills.
• Existing SC Security Clearance is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of system architectures for new and existing products.
• Translate customer and operational requirements into verifiable system specifications.
• Define system-level interfaces and allocate requirements across multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead system integration activities across RF, hardware, software and FPGA subsystems.
• Develop and oversee system verification, validation and qualification activities.
• Lead technical investigations, fault-finding and root-cause analysis.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to engineers across disciplines.
• Engage with customers on technical requirements and architectures.
• Support products through development, production and deployment.

Skills

Systems engineering

Lifecycle management

Architecture development

Hardware/software/FPGA

Verification & validation

RF systems

Troubleshooting

Technical leadership

Security clearance

Job description

Principal Systems Engineer | Defence Electronics | South West Midlands

Some engineers specialise in one discipline. Others understand how all the pieces fit together. This is an opportunity for the latter.

My client is an established, R&D-led defence electronics business. Their products are deployed globally, supporting defence and security customers in some of the most demanding operational environments.

They're looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to take a leading role in the architecture, integration and development of complex electronic systems.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position where you'll work across RF, hardware, software, FPGA and mechanical engineering, helping turn customer requirements into fully integrated, operational products.

What you'll do

• Lead the development of system architectures for new and existing products.
• Translate customer and operational requirements into clear, verifiable system specifications.
• Define system-level interfaces and allocate requirements across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Lead system integration activities, bringing together RF, hardware, software and FPGA subsystems.
• Develop and oversee system verification, validation and qualification activities.
• Lead technical investigations, fault-finding and root-cause analysis.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to engineers across different disciplines.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders on technical requirements, architectures and solutions.
• Support products through development, qualification, production and ongoing deployment.

What you’ll bring

• Significant systems engineering experience within a complex engineering or product development environment.
• Experience working across the full engineering lifecycle, including V-model and Agile methodologies.
• Proven experience developing system architectures and managing technical requirements.
• Experience integrating complex hardware and software-based systems.
• Strong understanding of system-level verification and validation.
• Experience working with RF systems, radio equipment or related electronic technologies.
• Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose complex systems across hardware, software and FPGA domains.
• Strong technical leadership and communication skills.
• Existing SC Security Clearance is essential.

Nice to have

• Experience within Defence, Electronic Warfare (EW), Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), Counter-UAS, radar or communications.
• Electronics or RF design experience.
• Knowledge of DSP and signal-processing systems.
• Experience with embedded software and FPGA-based systems.
• MATLAB, Simulink or Python.
• Experience with DEF STAN, MIL-STD or other relevant engineering standards.
• Work on technology that makes a genuine difference to defence and security.
• Take ownership of system-level engineering decisions and influence future product development.
• Work across a broad range of engineering disciplines rather than being restricted to one area.
• Join a specialist, R&D-focused engineering team developing innovative products for global customers.
• Opportunity to make a real technical impact within an established and growing business.

Salary £80,000–£100,000 DOE, with additional flexibility for an exceptional candidate.