Senior Systems Engineer - Communications

NATS; Whiteley; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Remote/office hybrid

Job summary

NATS is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer in the Comms engineering team to lead delivery on complex ATC systems. You will act as the Engineering Authority across the full lifecycle, guiding multi‑site deployments and ensuring safety and reliability for UK airports.

You will manage performance, change control, and stakeholder engagement, delivering technically sound solutions while maintaining safety-critical standards.

Qualifications

• Higher National Certificate in Engineering or IT related discipline.
• Structured technical training with qualification at least to HNC level considered.
• Proven ability to lead a team and work within a team.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts.
• Strong planning, scheduling and multitask management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of engineers.
• Oversee major projects and ensure strategic alignment.
• Act as the Engineering Authority for complex systems.
• Negotiate requirements and timelines with stakeholders.
• Produce technical specifications for major systems and bids.
• Lead engineering estimates and tender evaluations.
• Plan project delivery and manage change activities.
• Manage day‑to‑day project activities including installation and commissioning.
• Create maintenance and operating procedures; ensure deliverables meet plans.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering Authority

Stakeholder communication

Project coordination

Technical decision making

Education

Higher National Certificate in Engineering or IT

Tools

ATSEP knowledge

Job description

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.

Salary: £72,094.66 - £96,126.21

Closing Date: Wednesday 9th September 2026

Purpose Of Job

Manage a team of engineers responsible for aspects of the procurement, safety management, and bringing into service of relevant ATC Systems. Typically, these will be major / complex projects.Will be required to undertake the Engineering Authority roles in supporting relevant ATC Systems through the entire equipment life cycle.

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.

Project Delivery

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Negotiate and coordinate project requirements and timelines with stakeholders.
• Produce technical specifications for major systems, reviewing wider team’s work.
• Lead production of engineering estimates for project bids.
• Lead and direct tender evaluations and assess technical solutions.
• Support project planning in line with delivery milestones.
• Act as Change Lead for major projects, ensuring change assurance activities are completed.
• Manage day-to-day project activities of team including installation and commissioning.
• Perform acceptance testing and produce test reports, reviewing wider team’s work.
• 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 reports and wider team are suitably competent, identifying training needs and support team and personal development as required.
• Ensure the performance of direct reports and wider team is 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 to address asset support issues.
• Responsible for up to 3 direct reports, with responsibility for a wider team of up to 10.. Plays a co-ordinating role for subcontractors.

Scope Of Job

• Lead a team delivering engineering projects and providing Engineering Authority support to current Operation Systems within a particular domain. The post holder is expected to resolve conflicting demands on their time and of 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 in strategic planning in respect of assets within their area of technical expertise.
• The post holder may be called on to advise and assist operational engineers in order to restore 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 to undertake tasks within an operational environment therefore will need to demonstrate suitable behaviours.
• The post holder may be required to provide out of hours on-call support for specific systems as 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 structured technical training (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 lead a team as well as work as part 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 with relevant legislation, standardsandprocedures would be beneficial.
• Air Traffic equipment training such as ATSEP and OEM training courses will be beneficial. As well as a good understanding of ATC practices and procedures.
• A strong understanding of the system types used in the relevant technical domain and 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 of NATS’ 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 frontier of our industry.