Senior Systems Engineer

GB07 Agilent Technologies LDA UK Limited; Harwell; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Agilent Technologies LDA UK Limited in Harwell, UK, is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to provide system-level technical leadership across the development of complex scientific instrumentation. You will work with software, firmware, electronics, mechanics, and applications teams to drive integration and ensure successful product delivery.

The role requires strong systems thinking, robust troubleshooting, and the ability to influence technical direction across multiple engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in a Systems Engineering role within a complex product development environment.
• Demonstrated success integrating multidisciplinary systems involving hardware, firmware, and software.
• Strong experience in system-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence technical decisions across multiple engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Define, capture, and manage system-level requirements.
• Translate customer, scientific, and business needs into technical specifications.
• Support development of product architectures and subsystem interfaces.
• Drive system-level design reviews and technical risk assessments.
• Ensure traceability between requirements, implementation, verification, and product performance.
• Lead integration of hardware, firmware, software, and mechanical subsystems into complete instrument solutions.
• Act as a technical focal point across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Drive resolution of complex cross-functional technical challenges.
• Facilitate effective communication between development teams and stakeholders.
• Support strategic technical decision making throughout the product lifecycle.
• Define system verification and validation strategies.
• Develop test approaches to demonstrate system performance against requirements.
• Identify and manage technical risks early in the development cycle.
• Ensure robust engineering practices are applied throughout product development.
• Lead investigation of complex system issues using structured troubleshooting methodologies.
• Perform system-level fault finding across software, firmware, electronics, optics, mechanics, and instrument control systems.
• Drive root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Support customer escalations and sustaining engineering activities where required.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to engineers across disciplines.
• Contribute to the development of systems engineering best practices within the organisation.
• Support the technical development of project teams.
• Potentially undertake line management responsibilities depending on experience and organisational needs.

Skills

Systems engineering

Requirements capture

Cross-functional leadership

Root cause analysis

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in EE/related field

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

Agilent is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to join our R&D organisation in Harwell, UK. This role is responsible for providing system-level technical leadership across the development of complex scientific instrumentation, working closely with multidisciplinary teams spanning software, firmware, electronics, mechanical engineering, applications, and operations. The successful candidate will combine strong technical depth with broad systems-thinking capability, enabling them to understand complex interactions across subsystems, drive integration activities, resolve challenging technical issues, and ensure successful delivery of innovative products. This is a highly collaborative role suited to an engineer who enjoys working across organisational boundaries, influencing technical direction, and turning complex engineering challenges into robust product solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Architecture & Requirements

• Define, capture, and manage system-level requirements.
• Translate customer, scientific, and business needs into technical specifications.
• Support development of product architectures and subsystem interfaces.
• Drive system-level design reviews and technical risk assessments.
• Ensure traceability between requirements, implementation, verification, and product performance.

System Integration & Technical Leadership

• Lead integration of hardware, firmware, software, and mechanical subsystems into complete instrument solutions.
• Act as a technical focal point across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Drive resolution of complex cross-functional technical challenges.
• Facilitate effective communication between development teams and stakeholders.
• Support strategic technical decision making throughout the product lifecycle.

Verification, Validation & Performance

• Define system verification and validation strategies.
• Develop test approaches to demonstrate system performance against requirements.
• Identify and manage technical risks early in the development cycle.
• Ensure robust engineering practices are applied throughout product development.

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

• Lead investigation of complex system issues using structured troubleshooting methodologies.
• Perform system-level fault finding across software, firmware, electronics, optics, mechanics, and instrument control systems.
• Drive root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Support customer escalations and sustaining engineering activities where required.

Team Development

• Provide coaching and mentoring to engineers across disciplines.
• Contribute to the development of systems engineering best practices within the organisation.
• Support the technical development of project teams.
• Potentially undertake line management responsibilities depending on experience and organisational needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in a Systems Engineering role within a complex product development environment.
• Demonstrated success integrating multidisciplinary systems involving hardware, firmware, and software.
• Strong experience in system-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence technical decisions across multiple engineering disciplines.

Preferred

• Electrical or Electronic Engineering background.
• Previous experience developing scientific instruments, analytical instrumentation, medical devices, semiconductor equipment, or other complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience with requirements management and systems engineering methodologies.
• Exposure to model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and approaches.
• Previous line management, team leadership, or technical leadership experience.
• Experience working within a global R&D organisation.

Additional Details

This job has a full time weekly schedule. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, a recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for a preferred location. Pay and benefit information by country are available at: https://careers.agilent.com/locations

Agilent Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.

Travel Required: 10% of the Time Shift: Day Duration: No End Date Job Function: R&D

As a global leader in laboratory and clinical technologies, we are passionate about bringing great science to life. Our commitment to quality and innovation supports cutting-edge life science research, patient diagnostics, and ensures the safety of water, food, and pharmaceuticals. As scientists and clinicians pursue small, everyday advances and life-changing discoveries, we provide trusted answers to their most critical questions and challenges. Leveraging more than 50 years of expertise, we create advanced instruments, software, and consumables supported by teams of highly skilled and knowledgeable people. With 18,000 employees around the world, our global reach and comprehensive solutions provide the most reliable and accurate results, as well as optimal scientific, economic, and operational outcomes. We work collaboratively with our customers on their journey to make a real difference in human lives. Our culture is founded on trust, respect, and uncompromising integrity, and we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and fosters innovation. We can’t wait for you to join us as we continue our mission to improve the world around us.

Information about Agilent is available at Agilent.com.