Senior Engineering Lead - Counter-Uncrewed Systems

Sopra Steria Limited; Hemel Hempstead; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

25 days holiday + buy extra 10 days

AXA medical insurance

Pension 6%

Life assurance 4x salary

Job summary

Sopra Steria Limited is seeking a senior systems engineer to lead the UK Counter-UAS Command and Control integration with sensors, radios, and wider defence systems. You will work closely with MOD and government customers to translate operational needs into robust technical requirements, setting UK engineering direction and coordinating with teams in France.

Expect hybrid working with on-site Presence in Hertfordshire a few times per month and occasional travel to support demonstrations in

Qualifications

• Proven systems engineering and systems integration experience within defence or secure environments.
• Experience integrating complex systems involving C4ISR, sensors, comms or related defence subsystems.
• Strong ability to translate customer requirements into workable engineering solutions.
• Working knowledge of defence interoperability and data standards such as SAPIENT or similar.
• Excellent customer-facing and technical communication skills for documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration of Counter-UAS C2 solution with sensors, comms and defence systems.
• Engage with MOD, military and government customers to derive system requirements.
• Set technical direction for UK engineering, coordinating with teams in France.
• Lead integration design, interfaces, verification and interoperability tests.
• Produce high-quality system designs, integration plans and test docs.
• Support customer demonstrations and field activities with periodic travel.

Skills

Systems engineering

Systems integration

Defence/security experience

C4ISR

Interoperability

Technical documentation

Job description

An opportunity to be a part of building and leading a UK Counter Uncrewed Systems (C UxS) business for Sopra Steria UK. You will help build the technical capability to take a proven C UxS Command and Control solution (Boreades) into the UK market. The role requires a strong understanding of defence systems integration, experience with military strike and sensor systems, and the ability to translate customer requirements into robust technical solutions. The role will suit someone with strong systems engineering and integration experience who is comfortable working directly with defence or government customers, providing technical direction to engineering teams and supporting demonstrations in operational environments. This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with an expectation to be on site in the Hertfordshire area a few times per month, and, depending on business and customer requirements, there may be occasions where you are required to work elsewhere.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the integration of our Counter-UAS Command and Control solution with sensors, effectors, communications and wider defence systems.
• Work directly with MOD, military and government customers to understand operational needs and translate them into clear technical and system requirements.
• Set the technical direction for UK engineering activity, working closely with engineering teams and colleagues in France to deliver the UK capability.
• Lead integration design, interface definition, verification and interoperability across complex military and defence systems.
• Produce and review high-quality technical documentation, including system designs, integration plans, technical proposals and test documentation.
• Support regular customer demonstrations and field-based activity, alongside limited European travel, primarily to France.

What You'll Bring

• Proven systems engineering and systems integration experience within a military, defence or similarly complex secure environment.
• Experience integrating complex systems involving areas such as Command and Control, communications, sensors, radar, electronic systems or military strike/effect systems.
• Strong experience leading technical integration and turning customer requirements into workable engineering solutions.
• Working knowledge of C4ISR environments and how multiple systems, platforms and technologies integrate across a wider enterprise.
• Knowledge of defence interoperability and data standards, including SAPIENT or comparable standards and integration frameworks.
• Strong customer-facing and technical communication skills, including the ability to produce clear technical documentation and explain complex solutions.

It would be great if you had:

• Experience within Counter-UAS, Counter-Drone or related detection, tracking, identification and defeat technologies.
• Knowledge of electronic warfare, radar, RF, sensor fusion or other advanced sensor technologies.
• Experience with NATO standards, STANAGs, open architectures or modular system design.
• Understanding of Secure by Design principles and the constraints associated with operating within secure government or defence environments.
• Experience across the wider systems engineering lifecycle, including verification, validation and model-based systems engineering approaches.
• Previous military experience combined with commercial defence or engineering experience would be advantageous.

Employment Type: Permanent Location: Hertfordshire - hybrid Security Clearance Level: Active SC and willingness to go through MoD DV

Internal Recruiter: Josh Salary: Competitive, based on experience

Benefits: £5,400 car allowance, which can also be taken as cash, 25 days' holiday, with the option to purchase up to an additional 10 days per year, AXA medical insurance, 6% pension contribution and life assurance at 4x salary.

Loved reading about this job and want to know more about us? Sopra Steria's Aerospace, Defence and Security business designs, develops and deploys digital solutions to Central Government clients. The work we do makes a real difference to the client's goal of National Security, and we operate in a unique and privileged environment. We are given time for professional development activities, and we coach and mentor our colleagues, sharing knowledge and learning from each other. We foster a culture in which employees feel valued and supported and have pride in their work for the customer, delivering outstanding rates of customer satisfaction in the UK's most complex safety- and security-critical markets.