Project Design Authority / Systems Design Authority

WeAreTechWomen; Templecombe; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance‑related bonus

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Life cover

Volunteer day

Job summary

Thales UK is seeking a Project Design Authority to lead complex sonar projects from concept to sea, acting as the ultimate arbiter of solution integrity. You will interface with customers, govern technical solutions, and ensure compliance with safety, export, and contractual requirements.

Hybrid roles in Templecombe or Cheadle with UK travel. Ideal candidates are experienced engineers who can authorize complex decisions and drive strategic outcomes in defence programs while maintaining national

Qualifications

• Significant expertise in Sonar Systems, Signal Processing, or Hardware with deep understanding of the full systems engineering lifecycle.
• Proven track record as a PDA or Lead Engineer on large-scale defense projects.
• Strategic thinker who considers business case, supportability and long-term footprint.
• Strong communicator able to lead technical discussions with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical conscience for the project, approving the Design & Justification File (D&JF).
• Lead the technical voice in front of the Customer translating requirements into engineering strategy.
• Ensure the solution meets contract requirements, export controls, and safety/environmental legislation.
• Navigate Make vs. Buy decisions and mitigate technical risks throughout bid and project lifecycle.
• Sign off on final integration, verification, and validation of complex systems.

Skills

Sonar Systems

Signal Processing

Hardware

Systems engineering lifecycle

Authorizing and influencing

Technical leadership

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Our purpose is to deliver trusted underwater sensing and decision advantage, working hand‑in‑hand with navies around the world to safeguard people and nurture global security. Our work spans four sectors: Mine Countermeasures, Anti‑Submarine Warfare, Services and Future Capabilities.

Our Underwater Systems (UWS) is looking for a Project Design Authority—a technical leader who possesses the rare blend of engineering rigor, strategic vision, and the "natural authority" to lead complex sonar projects from concept to sea.

As the primary technical interface with our customers, you won’t just be part of the team; you will be the ultimate arbiter of solution integrity, ensuring our anti‑submarine warfare and mine‑hunting technologies are compliant, safe, and world‑beating.

Location: Templecombe or Cheadle (Hybrid options available)

Travel: 25% (UK-wide)

The Mission:

In this pivotal role, you sit at the heart of the "Golden Triangle"—partnering with the Solution Architect and the Engineering Delivery Manager to turn customer needs into reality.

Key Objectives:

• Technical Governance: Act as the "technical conscience" for the project, providing final approval on the Design & Justification File (D&JF).
• Customer Leadership: Serve as the lead technical voice in front of the Customer, translating complex requirements into actionable engineering strategies.
• Total Compliance: Ensure our solutions meet rigorous contract requirements, export restrictions, and safety/environmental legislation.
• Risk & Strategy: Navigate "Make vs. Buy" decisions and mitigate technical risks throughout the bid and project lifecycle.
• Verification: Sign off on the final integration, verification, and validation (IV&V) of complex systems.

About You:

You are an experienced engineer who has moved beyond "doing" and into the realm of authorizing and influencing. You thrive in high‑stakes environments where your decisions have a direct impact on national security.

Your DNA:

• Technical Depth: Significant expertise in Sonar Systems, Signal Processing, or Hardware, with a deep understanding of the full systems engineering lifecycle.
• Natural Authority: A proven track record as a PDA or Lead Engineer on large-scale, complex defense projects.
• Strategic Thinker: You don’t just solve the problem; you consider the business case, the supportability, and the long‑term footprint.
• Communicator: You can command a room of experts or simplify complex technical hurdles for stakeholders with ease.

Why Join Thales?

At Thales, we design the systems that the world relies on to stay safe. You will be joining a close-knit, friendly team that values hard work and professional growth. We offer:

• Autonomy: The power to lead and define technical solutions.
• Impact: See your work deployed in the most challenging environments on Earth—the deep ocean.
• Flexibility: A culture that respects work‑life balance while delivering on critical national milestones.

Benefits:

• Performance‑related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non‑ITAR country may be considered.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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