Principal Systems Engineer (Electrical)

Fortress Recruit Limited; Poole; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortress Recruit Limited is supporting a leading Defence Manufacturer in Poole to recruit a Principal Systems Engineer (Electrical). This senior role blends hands-on engineering with project leadership across full lifecycle projects, with some tasks more technical and others more leadership-oriented.

You will act as Technical Authority, review designs, mentor engineers, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex naval and maritime projects from concept to manufacture.

Qualifications

• Requires degree in Electrical/Systems Engineering or related field.
• Significant senior-level experience in electrical engineering and design.
• Experience reviewing, approving and signing off electrical designs.

Responsibilities

• Act as Technical Authority for allocated projects, review/sign off electrical designs and outputs.
• Provide senior technical leadership across projects from requirements through verification and manufacture.
• Remain hands-on technically, supporting engineers and resolving complex electrical challenges.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary electrical/electronics/mechanical/software resources across teams.
• Lead technical reviews, manage technical risk and ensure standards compliance.
• Maintain high standards of engineering documentation, governance and design assurance.
• Work with APQP processes and collaborate with customers and internal stakeholders for project delivery.

Skills

Senior electrical engineering

Technical leadership

Engineering governance

Stakeholder management

Design authority

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Zuken E3

EPLAN

Job description

Fortress Recruit is supporting a leading Defence Manufacturer in their search for an experienced Principal Systems Engineer (Electrical) to join their growing specialist team based in Poole.

This is a senior position combining hands on technical engineering with project leadership, for new and existing full life cycle projects. Some projects will require you to be more involved technically, while others will require greater project leadership, so the ability to move comfortably between the two is essential.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the Technical Authority for allocated projects, reviewing and signing off electrical designs and engineering outputs
• Providing senior technical leadership across projects from requirements and concept through to verification, qualification and manufacture
• Remaining hands on technically, supporting engineers and resolving complex electrical engineering challenges
• Coordinating multidisciplinary engineering resource across electrical, electronics, mechanical, software and systems teams
• Leading technical reviews, managing technical risk and ensuring compliance with relevant standards and requirements
• Maintaining high standards of engineering documentation, technical governance and design assurance
• Working to APQP quality processes and collaborating with customers and internal stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Degree or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related discipline
• Significant senior level experience in electrical engineering and design
• Proven experience reviewing, approving and signing off electrical designs
• Strong knowledge of engineering standards and their application to complex designs
• Experience operating as a Technical Authority, Design Authority or equivalent senior technical position
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects within defence, naval, maritime, aerospace or other highly regulated environments
• Strong technical documentation, engineering governance and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with Zuken E3, EPLAN or equivalent electrical CAD package
• Knowledge of APQP, DEF STAN, MIL-STD, EMC or environmental qualification would be advantageous
• Eligibility for SC clearance (5 years UK residency with no visa or sponsorship requirement)

This is a predominantly site-based role in Poole, reflecting the collaborative nature of the position and the requirement to work closely with project teams and wider engineering disciplines. Some flexibility to work from home may be possible, typically 1-2 days per week where project requirements allow.

On offer is a competitive salary and the opportunity to take genuine technical ownership of complex naval and maritime engineering projects, working within a growing engineering organisation with significant future project demand.