Senior Systems Engineer - Communications

NATS Ltd; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work option

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

NATS Ltd is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer for the Communications domain to lead engineering teams and assume Engineering Authority for critical ATC systems. The role covers the full lifecycle from specification through deployment to operation and continuous improvement in a safety‑critical environment.

You will collaborate with stakeholders across multiple sites, manage complex change, and ensure systems remain reliable, resilient, and fit for purpose within regulatory frameworks.

Qualifications

• Minimum HNC in Engineering or IT related discipline with relevant experience.
• Ability to lead a team and work as part of a team.
• Able to communicate complex technical concepts clearly, in writing and speech.
• Calm, methodical, analytical approach to incidents and risk management.
• Experience applying IT/engineering practices within safety-critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of engineers.
• Oversee major projects and ensure strategic alignment.
• Act as Engineering Authority for complex systems.
• Lead and direct major tender evaluations and technical solution reviews.
• Provide EA support to current Operation Systems and ensure delivery to plan.

Skills

Team leadership

Engineering Authority

Communications systems

Risk management

Project delivery

Stakeholder communication

Education

Higher National Certificate in Engineering or IT

Job description

Senior Systems Engineer - Communications

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

PURPOSE OF JOB:

Manage a team of engineers responsible for aspects of theprocurement, safety management, and bringing into service ofrelevant ATCSystems.Typically, these will be major / complex projects.Will be required to undertakethe Engineering Authority roles in supportingrelevant ATCSystems through the entire equipment lifecycle.

This role is for a Senior Systems Engineer within our communications (Comms) engineering team supporting air traffic operations at UK airports. You will act an Engineering Authority for Comms systems, providing technical support across the full lifecycle from specification and deployment through to operational support and ongoing improvement within a safety-critical environment.You will bring strong experience of communications systems, ideally within regulated or operational environments. The role involves leading delivery engineering teams, supporting multi-site deployments, and managing performance, assurance and change for live systems. You will make confident technical decisions and work closely with stakeholders to ensure systems remain operational, resilient and trusted by operational users.

Key responsibilities:

Lead and manage a team of engineers.

Oversee major projects and ensure strategic alignment.

Act as the Engineering Authority for complex systems.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Project Delivery:

• Negotiate and coordinate project requirements and timelines with stakeholders.
• Produce technical specifications formajorsystems,reviewing wider team’s work.
• Leadproduction of engineering estimates for project bids.
• Leadanddirecttender evaluations and assess technical solutions.
• Supportproject planning in line with delivery milestones.
• Act as Change Lead formajorprojects, ensuring change assurance activities are completed.
• Manage day-to-day project activitiesof teamincluding installation and commissioning.
• Perform acceptance testing and produce test reports, reviewing wider team’swork.
• Produce and review maintenance and operating procedures.
• Ensure engineering deliverables are met according to the project plan.

Undertake the Engineering Authority (EA) role for designated systems:

• Prepare and maintain support documentation for allocated systems.
• Respond to customer technical enquiries and manage Corrective Action Requests.
• Monitor operational systems and conduct investigations into issues and faults.
• Plan and implement modifications to correct issues and faults with minimal disruption.
• Maintain awareness of industry developments affecting airport systems.

Team leadership and resource management:

• Manage team members within the Section across diverse locations.
• Allocate team resources to project and other activities within area of responsibility.
• Ensure that direct reportsand wider teamare suitably competent, identifying training needsand supportteam and personal developmentas required.
• Ensure the performance of direct reportsand wider teamis reviewed periodically.

AUTONOMY:

• The post holder commits resources within their direct control to achieve project deliverables within agreed financial limits.
• Assists in identifying the strategic aims of assigned projects and works tactically to deliver agreed customer solutions.
• As Engineering Authority will pro-actively recommend activities and resources required toaddress asset support issues.
• Responsible for up to3direct reports, withresponsibility fora wider team of up to10.. Plays a co-ordinating role for subcontractors.

SCOPE OF JOB:

• Lead a teamdelivering engineering projects andproviding Engineering Authority support to current Operation Systems within a particular domain.The post holder is expected to resolve conflicting demands on their time andof the wider team, in consultation with the Head of Section.
• The post holder is required to contribute to delivery of multiple projects at any one time, whilst also fulfilling an EA role, involving different project teams and locations.
• The post holder assists the Head of Section instrategic planningin respect of assets within their area oftechnicalexpertise.
• The post holder may be called on to advise and assist operational engineersin order torestore equipment. This may require short notice travel to remote sites.
• Where required, and where agreed, the post holder will deliver structured training and/or carry out structured Competency Assessment Checks within their field of expertise and in accordance with NATS procedures.
• The post holder will be required toundertake taskswithinan operationalenvironment thereforewill need todemonstratesuitable behaviours.
• The post holder may be required toprovide out of hourson-callsupportforspecificsystemsas designated by the Head of section.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• The post holder is expected to hold, as a minimum, a Higher National Certificate in an Engineering or Information Technology related discipline, and relevant experience. Job holders not holding the expected qualification but who have undertaken structuredtechnicaltraining (e.g. apprenticeship recognised by a professional body) with recognised qualification ideally to at least HNC equivalent level will also be considered.
• Proven ability to leada team as well aswork aspart of a team.
• Ability to communicate difficult technical and/or operational concepts clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to apply a calm, methodical, analytical and systematic approach to define/resolve complex incidents and dynamic risk management.
• Ability to interpret and effectively communicate technical information into business language and vice versa.
• Ability to perform a range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in a variety of environments.
• Demonstrable ability to plan, schedule and monitor own work (and that of others where applicable) competently within limited deadlines.
• A good understanding and experience withrelevant legislation, standardsandprocedureswould bebeneficial.
• Air Trafficequipment trainingsuch as ATSEPand OEM trainingcourseswill bebeneficial. Aswell as agood understanding of ATC practices and procedures.
• Astrong understanding of the system types used in the relevant technical domainand how they are used in operation.A wide knowledge of the equipment and techniques used in providing all aspects of ATS at airports.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate tactfully yet firmly with customers, suppliers and other sections,in pursuit ofNATS’business objectives.
• Demonstrable commitment to continuous professional development, both technical and personal.
• Skilled in the use of IT systems for professional documentation production and for project management.
• A passion for the Safety or Air Traffic Management and a willingness to learn, develop and take on different tasks under the guidance of their line manager.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements.

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.