Senior Project Design Authority for Sonar Systems

WeAreTechWomen

Templecombe

Hybrid

GBP 80,000 - 110,000

Full time

14 days+

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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.