Principal Systems Engineer — End-to-End Defense System Lead

Ruth Wagstaff Recruitment Ltd; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 92,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Ruth Wagstaff Recruitment Ltd seeks a Principle Systems Engineer for an Outside IR35 contract in Stevenage. The role is an initial 6-month contract with potential to extend to 12 months, at a daily rate of £500–£600.

The engineer will own end‑to‑end system ownership, leading requirements, architecture, and technical decisions from concept to delivery. Key activities include directing design, integration and verification, engaging with customers, and coordinating with suppliers and engineering

Qualifications

• Experience owning requirements, architecture and technical delivery.
• Experience within the defense industry.
• Strong systems engineering background in complex products or platforms.
• Proven integration, test and qualification experience.
• Ability to solve challenging multidisciplinary engineering problems.

Responsibilities

• Own system requirements, architecture and technical direction.
• Act as the senior technical authority for a complex engineering programme.
• Lead multidisciplinary design, integration and problem-solving activities.
• Direct and challenge suppliers, partners and specialist engineering teams.
• Drive verification, validation and product qualification.
• Engage customers and stakeholders while shaping systems engineering best practice.
• Travel across the UK and occasionally internationally to support customers, suppliers, trials and engineering partners.

Skills

Requirements ownership

System architecture

Technical delivery

Job description

Ruth Wagstaff Recruitment Ltd seeks a Principle Systems Engineer for an Outside IR35 contract in Stevenage. The role is an initial 6-month contract with potential to extend to 12 months, at a daily rate of £500–£600.

The engineer will own end‑to‑end system ownership, leading requirements, architecture, and technical decisions from concept to delivery. Key activities include directing design, integration and verification, engaging with customers, and coordinating with suppliers and engineering