Senior System Engineer

Lockheed Martin; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

4 day work week option

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Lockheed Martin is seeking an experienced Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) leader for UK satellite programs. You will guide architecture, integration, verification and delivery across the full lifecycle, working with senior leadership, customers and suppliers to balance technical and schedule priorities.

The role requires strong systems engineering expertise, programme leadership and clear communication to technical and executive audiences, with UK security clearance eligibility

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics or related technical discipline or equivalent.
• Significant systems engineering, integration and test experience in space/satellite domains.
• Experience with satellite system-level integration and testing in cleanroom environments.
• Strong understanding of GEO satellite systems and spacecraft architectures.
• Experience with verification planning, TPMs and test documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate systems engineering, integration and test activities across satellite and ground system development programmes.
• Manage and evolve the system requirements baseline throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Lead system integration, verification and validation planning and execution.
• Develop and maintain system integration/test strategies, plans and procedures.
• Maintain system architecture models and technical artefacts; govern design documentation.
• Define and track TPMs and programme technical metrics; drive engineering governance.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, suppliers and partners to resolve issues and risks.
• Support programme execution with the Program Manager, Chief Engineer and IPT leads.
• Mentor engineers within the SEIT function; drive continuous process improvement.
• Deliver satellite communications and mission-critical space system capabilities.

Skills

Systems engineering

Integration & test leadership

Requirements management

MBSE

Technical leadership

Stakeholder communication

Security clearance eligibility

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Satellite systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics or related technical discipline

Tools

MBSE

ECSS/NASA/MIL-STD standards

Job description

37.5 hours per week with 4 day work week option.

By bringing together people that use their passion for purposeful innovation, at Lockheed Martin we keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges.

Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.

With our employees as our priority, we provide career opportunities designed to propel development and boost agility.

Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work.

At Lockheed Martin, we place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering innovation, integrity, and exemplifying the embodiment of corporate responsibility.

Lockheed Martin Space is one of the four major business areas within Lockheed Martin.

LMUK Space is at the forefront of Lockheed Martin’s International growth strategy including building exquisite satellites for a broad array of missions, ground station mission planning and command & control software products deployed to a diverse customer base as well as key capabilities in AI and space exploration and all underpinned by key strategic collaborations with universities in the UK.

We not only deliver on current requirements, Lockheed Martin are always focused on the future requirements of this exciting and growing space domain which is a key enabler to our daily lives and future safety and security.

Be part of a team delivering the next generation of secure military communications satellites for the UK Ministry of Defence.

This work provides resilient, high-performance connectivity for the UK, its allies and Defence personnel worldwide, playing a critical role in protecting national security as space becomes more contested and demand for secure data continues to grow.

Joining Lockheed Martin also means helping to shape significant investment in the North East space sector, with more than £100 million proposed to support high-skill jobs, advanced manufacturing and long-term economic growth.

Opportunities include potential satellite manufacturing in County Durham and collaboration with NESST – the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre at Northumbria University – helping to build a strong pipeline of talent, learning and innovation.

This is your chance to work on mission-critical technology, develop cutting-edge skills and build a meaningful career, while delivering lasting impact for the region and the nation.

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) leader to support the development and delivery of advanced satellite and ground systems programmes in the UK.

This is a high-impact technical leadership role responsible for guiding systems engineering, integration, verification and validation activities across the full programme lifecycle — from architecture and development through integration, test and delivery.

You will work closely with senior leadership, customers, suppliers and multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure successful programme execution while balancing technical, schedule and business priorities.

The role requires strong systems engineering expertise, programme leadership capability and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and executive stakeholders.

The successful candidate will lead the UK-based SEIT team and play a key role in the delivery of complex space systems and mission capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate systems engineering, integration and test activities across satellite and ground system development programmes, including:
• Managing and evolving the system requirements baseline throughout the programme lifecycle,
• Leading system integration, verification and validation planning and execution,
• Developing and maintaining system integration and test strategies, plans and procedures,
• Maintaining system architecture models, technical artefacts and design documentation,
• Defining and tracking Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) and programme technical metrics,
• Leading technical reviews, readiness reviews and engineering governance activities,
• Coordinating cross-functional engineering teams, suppliers and partners to resolve technical issues and delivery risks,
• Supporting programme execution in partnership with the Program Manager, Chief Engineer and IPT leads,
• Driving continuous improvement in systems engineering and integration processes,
• Mentoring and developing engineers across the SEIT function.

Skills required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics or a related technical discipline, or equivalent industry experience
• Significant experience in systems engineering, integration and test within the space or satellite industry
• Proven hands-on experience in satellite system-level integration and testing within cleanroom and laboratory environments
• Strong understanding of GEO satellite systems and spacecraft architectures
• Experience with environmental verification testing processes and campaign execution
• Experience developing Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) plans, procedures and test documentation
• Strong requirements management experience, including verification planning and requirements sell-off
• Familiarity with industry standards including ECSS, NASA and MIL-STD
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
• Active or current UK Security Clearance (SC) eligibility required; UK or NATO citizenship essential.
• Experience leading Systems Engineering teams across full development programme lifecycles
• Experience implementing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches on complex programmes
• Knowledge of spacecraft payloads, subsystem technologies and associated ground systems
• Experience with software integration, interface definition and system-level testing
• Strong understanding of configuration management, baseline control and change management processes,
• Experience in risk and opportunity management within complex development programmes
• Programme management or Integrated Product Team (IPT) leadership experience
• Experience delivering satellite communications or mission-critical space systems
• Recognised subject matter expertise in Systems Engineering processes and governance.

LMPeople Qualifications and Experience :

Appropriate degree from an accredited college, or equivalent experience/combined education, with professional experience and specialized training commensurate with assignment.

Lockheed Martin is committed to upholding principles of equal opportunity, fostering a work environment that is aligned with our core values of integrity, respect, and exceptional performance. We recognize the importance of leveraging the unique talents and experiences of all our employees to drive innovation, deliver superior solutions, and maximize value for our customers. Our focus is on identifying the most qualified candidate for each role, regardless of their background. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive for all individuals. We are prepared to accommodate reasonable adjustments for applicants as needed.