Senior Principal Systems Engineer

QinetiQ Limited; Bagstone; Sur place; GBP 72 000 - 80 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Matched pension & life assurance

Generous holiday allowance

Health & Private Medical Insurance & a

Employee discount portal & more

Armed Forces Covenant support & Gold E

Résumé du poste

QinetiQ is seeking a Senior Principal Systems Engineer at our Bristol site. You will provide technical leadership across trials, test and evaluation capabilities, including the T3E Air Range Modernisation programme and future digital ranges, while integrating uncrewed systems and ensuring delivery of programmes on time, cost and quality.

Role requires SC clearance eligibility, a STEM degree, and Chartered Engineer (desirable).

Qualifications

• Proven technical leadership across multiple projects or programmes.
• Experience in Defence, Aerospace or related sectors/projects.
• Understanding the role of engineering management in a complex business environment.
• Underpinning knowledge of complex systems development and systems engineering practices.
• Understanding the influence of safety, security and regulatory requirements.
• Strong business and commercial awareness.

Responsabilités

• Acting as the Senior Design Authority (where delegated) and the Senior Engineering Authority.
• Working with Programme Managers to deliver programmes on-time, on-cost, on-quality in a safe and secure manner.
• Ensuring a resilient engineering team with coherent succession plans and no single points of failure.
• Ensuring the technical needs of the IDT are clearly articulated and that teams have appropriate competence.
• Engaging with stakeholders across the customer community (UK Defence, T3E Futures, T&E Campaign and beyond).
• Providing guidance, mentoring and coaching to Technical Leads and staff.

Connaissances

Technical Leadership

Defence/Aerospace experience

Systems engineering

Safety & regulatory awareness

Formation

STEM degree

Chartered Engineer (desirable)

Description du poste

Senior Principal Systems Engineer

2026-10-19T00:00:00

Location: Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, GB, BS37 7NE

Contract Type: Any

Company: QinetiQ

Application Deadline: 2026-11-17T10:00:16.73

Package: 72,000 - 80,000 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits

Role ID: SF20750

Are you ready to be part of the future?

At QinetiQ, we're not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Senior Principal Systems Engineer at our Bristol site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role

As a Senior Principal Systems Engineer, you'll provide Technical Leadership across the system developments underpinning Trials, Test and Evaluation (T3E) capability applicable to our Mission Rehearsal IDT (Integrated Delivery Team). This includes the T3E Air Range Modernisation programme, delivery of future "digital ranges" infrastructure, live virtual‑constructive capability as well as integration of un‑crewed systems into range infrastructure and rehearsal capability.

Day‑to‑day, you will ensure technical programmes of work are delivered with excellence (time, quality, cost), in collaboration with senior programme/portfolio managers, the IDT Lead and that technical risks alongside safety are managed. Additionally, you will cohere strategy and the technical direction of programmes acting as the senior engineering interface with principal customers and stakeholders. This will include MOD, OGD, T3E, Heads of Site, Range Engineering Managers, Technical Function, Business, T3E Futures, and Campaigns.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the Senior Design Authority (where delegated) and the Senior Engineering Authority


• Working with Programme Managers to deliver the programmes on‑time, on‑cost, on‑quality in a safe and secure manner


• Ensuring a resilient engineering team, working with Technical and Resourcing stakeholders to ensure coherent succession plans are in place and avoiding single points of failure


• Ensuring the technical needs of the IDT are clearly articulated, and the supplied technical teams have the right level of competence and domain knowledge


• Engaging with stakeholders across the customer community (UK Defence, T3E Futures, T&E Campaign and beyond) as required


• Providing guidance, mentoring, coaching and advice to Technical Leads and other technical staff

Essential experience of the Senior Principal Systems Engineer:

• Proven Technical Leadership across multiple projects or programmes


• Experience in Defence, Aerospace or related sectors/projects (civil engineering, nuclear, rail among others)


• Understanding the role of engineering management in a complex business environment


• Underpinning knowledge of complex systems development and systems engineering practices


• Understanding the influence of safety, security and regulatory requirements


• Strong business and commercial awareness

Essential qualifications for the Senior Principal Systems Engineer:

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a STEM discipline


• Chartered Engineer (desirable)

We value difference and we don't have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at our Bristol site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. Travel to other QinetiQ and customer sites will be expected.

Bristol

The QinetiQ facility in Bristol is part of the company's broader operation focused on defence and technology innovation. The site houses a diverse team of engineers, scientists and technical professionals who bring expertise to various projects ensuring high-quality outcomes. Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution

Guidance for applicants - GOV.UK ( Recruitment Process: At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing. One of our recruitment team will contact you. Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there's never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you'll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you'll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture.

Our Benefits

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance


• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days


• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance


• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more


• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme


• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community