Senior Systems Engineer

Saab UK; Southampton; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is recruiting a Senior Systems Engineer for the Sensor Systems Radar Business in Fareham. You will drive PNT and distributed sensing architecture, integrate GNSS and inertial navigation, and lead V&V campaigns with hardware- and software-in-the-loop simulations.

The role requires 7+ years in systems engineering focusing on PNT or distributed sensors, with MATLAB/Simulink proficiency. UK citizenship is necessary due to security requirements.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a related field.
• 5–10 years industrial radar, communications or electronic warfare systems experience.
• 7+ years of experience in systems engineering, specifically focusing on PNT and/or distributed sensor systems.
• Proven track record with systems utilising GNSS and Inertial Navigation and sensor fusion.
• Experience with distributed aperture systems, sensor networks, or MIMO radar architectures.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink for modelling and simulation.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools and requirements management tools.
• Familiar with the principles of ISO 15288:2023.
• UK or Swedish citizenship is required due to handling classified materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design of PNT solutions, integrating GNSS and inertial navigation.
• Architect distributed sensing networks and define system-level requirements and interfaces.
• Develop and execute V&V plans, hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations.
• Mentor junior engineers and present technical roadmaps to leadership.

Skills

GNSS

Inertial Navigation

PNT

Sensor Fusion

Kalman Filtering

MATLAB/Simulink

Model-Based Systems Engineering

ISO 15288

Education

Master's or PhD in a related field

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Model-Based Systems Engineering tools

Requirements management tools

Job description

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

The Role:

This role is part of our Sensor Systems Radar Business in Fareham.

At Saab, we are constantly looking ahead and pushing boundaries on whats considered technically possible. Saab is expanding in the UK and we are now seeking talented and highly motivated engineers to support our radar and sensors growth activities at our Fareham offices.

We are recruiting for a Senior Systems Engineer specialising in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) and Distributed Sensing.

The successful candidate is expected to fulfil the requirements of a Saab Specialist, and act as a technical leader to: drive development, lead innovation and anticipate future trends, identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and advocate change to maintain competitiveness. Also lead competence development, and formulate and maintain Specialist Work Programmes.

Key Responsibilities:

As a Senior System Engineer, you will be responsible for enhancing our current products, developing improvements and investigating new areas for product growth, as well as supporting the Engineering Team with various Systems Engineering-focussed activities.

• System Architecture & Design. Lead the architectural design of PNT solutions, integrating Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Inertial Navigation Systems, and alternative PNT (e.g., vision-based, RF-based, or celestial navigation). Architect distributed sensing networks, defining how data is collected, synchronized, and fused across multiple remote nodes to create a unified operational picture. Define system-level requirements, interface control documents, and performance specifications for timing accuracy and positioning precision. Perform trade studies to optimise the balance between size, weight, power, and cost and system performance.

• PNT & Synchronization Expertise. Implement and optimise high-precision timing distribution protocols (e.g., PTP/IEEE 1588, NTP, or White Rabbit). Develop strategies for PNT resilience, including mitigation of jamming, spoofing, and GNSS-denied environment operations. Lead the selection and integration of atomic clocks, quantum oscillators, and high-grade IMUs.
• Distributed Sensing & Data Fusion. Design algorithms and architectures for distributed beamforming, phased arrays, or coordinated sensor fusion. Manage the challenges of network latency, jitter and asynchronous data arrival in distributed sensing environments. Collaborate with software teams to implement edge-processing capabilities to reduce data backhaul from sensing nodes.
• Integration, Test & Evaluation. Develop comprehensive verification and validation (V&V) plans to prove timing and positioning accuracy. Design and execute complex test campaigns using hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations. Lead the analysis of telemetry and test data to identify systemic errors and drive corrective design changes.

• Leadership & Mentorship. Serve as the Subject Matter Expert for PNT and Distributed Sensing across cross-functional teams (Radio Frequency, Software, Mechanical). Mentor junior engineers in systems engineering best practices and specialized domain knowledge. Present technical roadmaps and progress reports to senior leadership and external.

Skills and Experience:

Required

• Master's or PhD in a related field.
• A minimum of five to ten years industrial radar, communications or electronic warfare systems experience.
• A minimum of seven years of experience in systems engineering, specifically focusing on PNT and/or distributed sensor systems.
• Proven track record with systems utilising GNSS (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS) and Inertial Navigation (Kalman Filtering, sensor fusion).
• Experience with distributed aperture systems, sensor networks, or Multiple-Input Multiple-Output radar architectures.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/ Simulink for modelling and simulation.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools and requirements management tools.
• Familiar with the principles of ISO 15288:2023.
• During your employment you will handle tasks and materials that are classified as military secret and therefore you must have a UK or Swedish citizenship.

Desirable

• RF Knowledge: Strong understanding of RF front-end design, antenna theory and signal propagation.
• Programming. Proficiency in C++, Python, or Rust for prototyping algorithms.
• Security. Experience with encrypted PNT signals or secure timing distribution.

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.