Principal Systems Engineer in Preston, Lancashire

Energy Jobline CVL; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 76,000; Part time

Job summary

A global energy company in the UK is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to develop next-generation radar systems. In this dynamic role, you will tackle complex technical challenges, apply engineering principles, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. The position offers competitive pay of up to £75,900 alongside flexible and part-time arrangements to ensure work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Flexible health and lifestyle benefits

Green car scheme

Private health plans

Qualifications

• Good understanding of factors affecting performance of sensing systems.
• Experience presenting technical and non-technical information.

Responsibilities

• Develop solutions for technical challenges in Radar Systems.
• Conduct system design analysis.
• Lead decomposition of requirements into system levels.
• Collaborate with various engineering disciplines.
• Define system acceptance strategies.

Skills

Signal processing

Target track extraction

Object classification algorithms

Systems Engineering

Tools

IBM DOORS Next

Job description

Energy Jobline is the largest and fastest growing global Energy Job Board and Energy Hub. We have an audience reach of over 7 million energy professionals, 400,000+ monthly advertised global energy and engineering jobs, and work with the leading energy companies worldwide.

We focus on the Oil & Gas, Renewables, Engineering, Power, and Nuclear markets as well as emerging technologies in EV, Battery, and Fusion. We are committed to ensuring that we offer the most exciting career opportunities from around the world for our jobseekers.

Job title

Principal Systems Engineer

Location

Cowes, Broad Oak, Great Baddow – Part time & accruing hours available. Please let us know if you would like to discuss these options.

Salary

Up to £75,900 (dependent on skills and experience)

About the role

Put yourself into a dynamic Principal Systems Engineering role at the forefront of real‑world demands in the defence industry. Alongside ensuring operational excellence for our existing products, you will have the opportunity to develop next‑generation radar systems to counter emerging threats and contribute to our strategy for new technology. Your day‑to‑day will be exciting and diverse as you apply Systems Engineering principles across the entire engineering development lifecycle.

What you’ll be doing

• Develop novel solutions to evolving technical challenges and emerging issues for complex Radar Systems that our customers and end‑user communities are facing.
• Apply a breadth of knowledge, skills and experience of Systems Engineering principles, techniques and governance to steer and develop technical solutions and resolve engineering issues.
• Conduct system design analysis to manage trade‑offs of system parameters to characterise and specify robust product design.
• Lead the decomposition of requirements to system and sub‑system level and manage these in an approved toolset such as IBM DOORS Next.
• Be a technical focus point with a holistic understanding of a whole system solution, leading analysis activities and system design decisions and providing guidance to your team.
• Collaborate with specialists across different engineering disciplines including electronics, electrical, mechanical and software to direct and realise overarching system design solutions.
• Direct and undertake system integration, test planning and execution.
• Define and articulate system acceptance strategies and acceptance evidence, demonstrating system performance across a wide range of operational scenarios to internal and external stakeholders.
• Build your personal profile with senior stakeholders and grow a diverse knowledge base in engineering.

Required skills and experience

• A good understanding of subject areas such as signal processing, target track extraction, object classification algorithms, system and sensor resource optimisation.
• A good understanding of factors that can affect the real‑world performance of sensing systems and how these can impact the accuracy and timeliness of measurements to meet challenging design objectives and requirements.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience of Systems Engineering, including knowledge of standards such as ISO 15288.
• Experience presenting both technical and non‑technical information in a formal setting.

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Radar Systems Engineering team

You will be working as a Principal Systems Engineer within a close‑knit multi‑function radar team of interdisciplinary engineers, evolving our radar portfolio of existing and brand‑new radar products to address emerging and future threats. This role is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills and invest in your career journey within a global business.

Work arrangements

In this role, you will be able to enjoy both flexible and hybrid working arrangements. Our workplace in Cowes is easily accessible from Southampton with a regular foot passenger ferry and BAE shuttle service from the ferry terminal to the site. Part‑time hours, accruing hours and flexibility around start and finish times are available to balance life at work, on site and at home.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values thought, rewards integrity and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Security and eligibility

Many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. Applicants must achieve baseline personnel security standards and may require higher levels of national security vetting. Certain nationalities and place‑of‑birth may restrict eligibility for the role.

Closing date

5th November 2025

Application

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Apply

If you are interested in applying for this job please press the Apply Button and follow the application process. Energy Jobline wishes you the very best of luck in your next career move.