Senior Systems Engineer – Defense Tech Lead

Ultra Intelligence & Communications; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus Scheme

Private Medical Cover

25 days’ holiday (plus Bank Holidays)

Pension Contribution

4 x Life Assurance Cover

Flexible working hours

Cycle to work scheme

Security Clearance Allowance

Job summary

Ultra Intelligence & Communications is seeking a Principal Systems Lead to own the Systems engineering lifecycle across complex defence programs in the Cyber Business. You will provide technical leadership, define system architecture, manage cross‑discipline interfaces and deliver high‑quality artefacts to meet customer requirements.

The role requires strong ISO/IEEE/IEC expertise, hands‑on development experience in hardware/software/firmware, and the ability to operate with limited guidance

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or have suitable Defence/Aerospace industry experience.
• Significant experience and a full understanding of Systems Engineering, the lifecycle, various development models and associated processes.
• Significant experience of developing high quality requirements and establishing a fully compliant systems design.
• Demonstrable experience in implementing the full Systems Engineering lifecycle as per the applicable ISO/IEEE/IEC standards.
• Technical and Line management experience of a team of systems engineers
• Experience in writing high quality technical documentation and the formal technical review of such material.
• Substantial knowledge of System Engineering practices, methodologies, processes, techniques and technology trends.
• Experience of requirement management and modelling tools.
• Previous experience of hands‑on development of either hardware, software or firmware development, particularly in an embedded environment.

Responsibilities

• Represents the Systems discipline as the lead Systems Engineer assigned to a project, owning the totality of the Systems assigned work packages and tasking, to deliver obligations and commitments to the enabling technical requirements, agreed processes, plans, quality, schedule and budget.
• Supports the Engineering Project Lead (EPL) in delivering the delegated engineering management obligations, defines the team resources needed and delegates leadership and technical responsibilities applicable to the Systems work packages and assurance tasks to the allocated systems team.
• Is responsible for all aspects of the development of technical solutions to large and complex engineering problems, demonstrate alignment to Systems Engineering practices, principles and processes, to ensure customer requirements are satisfied.
• Quantifies and implements a marriage of technical processes and technical management processes to achieve the desired solution, delivering Systems Engineering artefacts, as required, across the engineering development lifecycle, to result in a positive project outcome.
• Provide technical direction and exert technical influence across the numerous project work packages, such that the optimal approach, applicable processes, risk mitigations, architecture, design, and implementation are selected/identified.
• Work closely with the system, hardware, firmware and software architects and design authorities to ensure consistency, design for modularity and re-use, and technical excellence.
• Plans and delivers design reviews, to senior management and customers, to a level of clarity and quality to ensure a successful event/outcome.
• Leads, manages and reports Systems aspects of the project to achieve optimal balance between requirements, solution maturity, technical risk, schedule and cost.
• Manage customers and external suppliers to define and achieve expectations and objectives, where the System lead achieves acceptance via the technical solution and related products/artefacts.
• Having delivered the solution acts as the Design Authority (DA), supporting the in-service phase and future opportunities/change.
• Ensure and review technical/task proposals, providing accurate estimates for the associated effort, costs and risks, for bids and proposals, leading to contract award.
• Technically lead other project discipline lead/s, working with project management and engineering project leads, to create proposals associated to the technical solution, that drive down project costs, risk and increase margin.
• Reviews and signs off significant technical documents; frequently supporting the technical review chair with the significant deliverables.
• Manage security of information as defined in the Security manual to ensure compliance with Government regulations.
• Actively supports and offers value add improvements to the Systems discipline to grow the overall capability as a whole.
• As required supports recruitment, early careers development and STEM engagement.
• Leads others, in Systems and outside, to develop greater awareness and implementation of a systems approach, practices and applicable processes.
• Line Management duties, proactively leading and coaching reports, aid the creation of development plans and support execution, whilst measuring continuous improvement in others.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Requirements management

Technical leadership

ISO/IEEE/IEC standards

Embedded hardware/software

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Defence/Aerospace industry experience

Job description

Ultra Intelligence & Communications is seeking a Principal Systems Lead to own the Systems engineering lifecycle across complex defence programs in the Cyber Business. You will provide technical leadership, define system architecture, manage cross‑discipline interfaces and deliver high‑quality artefacts to meet customer requirements.

The role requires strong ISO/IEEE/IEC expertise, hands‑on development experience in hardware/software/firmware, and the ability to operate with limited guidance