Senior Systems Engineer

BAE Systems - UK; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contractor in the UK seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to apply systems engineering principles across the lifecycle. Candidates should possess strong skills in requirements management and system architecture. The role offers up to £60,000 depending on experience and provides benefits such as a pension scheme, health plans, and employee share options. This position is critical for delivering world-class naval training solutions.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Employee share plans

Qualifications

• Understanding of engineering principles and systems thinking.
• Experience in software-based product development.
• Familiarity with lifecycle models such as Waterfall and Agile.
• Ability to present technical information in formal settings.

Responsibilities

• Implement ISO 15288 in full lifecycle processes.
• Manage system and sub-system requirements effectively.
• Plan and execute integration and testing activities.
• Produce technical reports and conduct reviews.

Skills

Systems Engineering Principles

Requirements Management

System Architecture & Design

Integration & Testing

Technical Documentation

Technical Leadership

Model-Based Engineering

Tools

IBM DOORS Next

CATIA Magic

JIRA

Job description

Job Title

Senior Systems Engineer

Location

Portsmouth Broad Oak

Salary

Up to £60,000 dependent on skills and experiences

What you’ll be doing

• Apply Systems Engineering Principles: Implement ISO 15288 across the full lifecycle—from requirements definition through integration, acceptance, support, and disposal
• Requirements Management: Decomposing and managing system and sub-system requirements using approved tools (e.g., IBM DOORS Next)
• System Architecture & Design: Performing system design decomposition, interface definition, and maintain architectural models in tools like CATIA Magic (Cameo)
• Integration & Testing: Planning and executing system integration and testing, contributing to acceptance strategies and compliance verification
• Technical Documentation & Reviews: Producing technical reports, presentations, and conducting reviews to ensure adherence to specifications and standards
• Technical Leadership & Guidance: Working independently under limited direction, resolving engineering issues, and providing guidance to the immediate team
• Maintain Contemporary Practices: Staying current with Model-Based Engineering, digital threads, cybersecurity, and safety procedures

Your skills and experiences

• Understands engineering principles and approaches underpinning design and development activities and be capable of systems thinking, applying holistic approaches to complex problems
• Demonstrates understanding, knowledge and experience of Systems Engineering with a focus on software-based product development including knowledge of appropriate Systems Engineering and Software Engineering standards (e.g. ISO 15288 and ISO 12207 respectively)
• Experience of working with large scale complex system designs
• Experience of multiple phases of an engineering lifecycle and good knowledge of lifecycle models (e.g. Waterfall, Agile) and associated tools (e.g. JIRA)
• Experience of presenting both technical and non-technical information in a formal setting

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Modelling & Simulation Projects team

We’re a team of around 150 training and systems engineering specialists with decades of experience delivering world-class naval training solutions for the Royal Navy. Our diverse workforce includes former RN officers, operators, and maintainers, alongside experts from the Army, RAF, MOD, academia, and industry. We shape training strategy, define requirements, and assure solutions that meet operational needs.

We deliver end-to-end training management and technology solutions across the Defence training continuum, aligned with JSP 822 and JSP 939. From strategy and acquisition to integration and assurance, our products support training delivery, experimentation, and test & integration.

Why BAE Systems

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date

2nd January 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.