Principal Systems Engineer – Defence Tech Architect

ViaSat Inc.; Farnborough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ViaSat Inc. in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the technical definition and delivery of advanced security devices, guiding a cross-disciplinary team of electronics, FPGA, software and mechanical engineers from concept to deployment.

This high-visibility, hands-on role requires owning system architecture, requirements management and lifecycle qualification, while collaborating with project managers and defence customers to ensure the end product meets mission

Qualifications

• 7+ years in defence, aerospace, or space sectors delivering physical electronic/software products.
• A degree-level qualification in Engineering, Electronic Design, Computer Science, Physics, or a relevant technical field.
• Experience delivering complex technical solutions across the systems engineering lifecycle (requirements management, system design, architecture, verification).
• Strong system-level thinking with ability to converse with hardware, software, FPGA and mechanical domains.
• Strong technical documentation skills and ability to negotiate technical requirements with customers.
• Nationality & Security: sole British Nationality and eligibility for UK DV Clearance.

Responsibilities

• System Architecture & Definition: act as the technical authority for product features, system behavior and inter-disciplinary design trade-offs.
• Requirements Engineering: lead elicitation, structuring and management of requirements using IBM DOORS across engineering disciplines.
• Engineering Leadership: guide the development team through the product lifecycle and drive risk resolution.
• Lifecycle & Qualification: oversee verification, validation and environmental qualification from concept to customer acceptance.
• Bids & Estimates: produce robust engineering estimates for bid activities.
• Customer Discussions: interface with defence customers to clarify or modify requirements.

Skills

System-level thinking

Technical documentation

Requirements management

Engineering leadership

Education

Engineering/electronic design/CS/physics degree

Tools

SysML

UML

IBM DOORS

Job description

ViaSat Inc. in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the technical definition and delivery of advanced security devices, guiding a cross-disciplinary team of electronics, FPGA, software and mechanical engineers from concept to deployment.

This high-visibility, hands-on role requires owning system architecture, requirements management and lifecycle qualification, while collaborating with project managers and defence customers to ensure the end product meets mission