Senior System Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Harlow; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leader in advanced defence and aerospace solutions is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer based in Harlow, UK. This role engages in the full systems engineering lifecycle, providing technical leadership and contributing to development of critical solutions. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in mentoring engineering teams and a degree in a STEM discipline. There is a clear pathway to team leadership for those aiming for career growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading or mentoring small engineering teams (minimum of 2 engineers).
• Strong understanding of the full systems engineering lifecycle from requirements through to certification.
• Skilled in creating and managing customer and internal technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Support the System Design Authority and Systems Engineering Team Leads in development and management of system-level requirements.
• Production of technical documentation including requirements specs and design reports.
• Contribute to bid activities including proposal preparation and cost estimation.

Skills

Leading or mentoring small engineering teams

Full systems engineering lifecycle understanding

Creating and managing technical documentation

Problem-solving skills

Time management skills

Collaboration in multi-disciplinary teams

Education

Degree in STEM discipline

Job description

Job Description

Senior Systems Engineer

Location: Harlow, UK

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time (37 hours per week)

About the job:

Copello are supporting a leader in advanced defence and aerospace solutions, supporting critical programmes from the nation's only Global Factory for these technologies.

The Opportunity

This role will contribute to the development and sustainment of solutions, providing technical leadership across the full systems engineering lifecycle – from requirements capture and analysis to system design, verification, validation, and qualification.

This is a hands-on role in a highly technical environment, ideal for someone looking to take on increasing responsibility. The role offers a clear path to a future team leadership position for those seeking career growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the System Design Authority and Systems Engineering Team Leads in the:
• Development and management of system-level requirements
• Production of technical documentation (requirements specs, interface documents, design reports)
• System analysis, design, and technical reviews
• Contribute to bid activities, including proposal preparation and cost/effort estimation
• Participate in investigations, studies, and system performance assessments
• Engage with internal stakeholders across engineering, programme management, and manufacturing teams
• Take ownership of complex problems, working both independently and collaboratively to deliver compliant solutions within project timelines

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience in leading or mentoring small engineering teams (minimum of 2 engineers)
• Strong understanding of the full systems engineering lifecycle from requirements through to certification
• Skilled in creating and managing customer and internal technical documentation
• Familiarity with engineering governance, policies, and procedures, and the ability to guide others in applying them
• Excellent problem-solving and time management skills
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)