System Design Authority

Morson Edge; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career Development and Training

25 days holiday (increasing to 28, 30)

Dental Cover and Employee Assistance

Job summary

TKMS Atlas UK seeks a System Design Authority to lead system engineering for submarine technology projects. You will own technical direction, drive architecture from concept to customer acceptance, and coordinate with engineering, production and project managers across divisions.

The role emphasizes collaboration with customers and stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery and advancing core capabilities in underwater systems with a path for long-term product development and standardization.

Qualifications

• Systems thinking mindset and ability to see the broader operational context.
• Experience across product lifecycles, systems design and modeling.
• Ability to manage requirements, testing, acceptance and production support.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical leadership and systems engineering from concept to customer acceptance.
• Own technical ownership and authority as systems deployed and supported.
• Collaborate with customers, PMs and divisions to deliver solutions.
• Prepare technical proposals and support bids and quotations.
• Manage technical aspects of allocated initiatives and ensure on-time delivery.
• Align development with other divisions and road-map enabling technologies.
• Drive long-term product development plans and standardization initiatives.

Skills

Systems thinking

Product lifecycles

Systems design

System modeling

Requirements management

Testing

Acceptance

Production

Support

Sonar arrays

Sensor data processing

Signal processing

Telemetry

Real-time systems

Decision support systems

Towed array systems

Cable handling systems

Weapons and countermeasures

Noise and vibration analysis

Acoustic systems

RF systems

Industrial automation

Safety systems

Modeling and simulation

Future submarine concepts

Job description

Are you ready to steer innovation beneath the waves?

Do you have the skills to navigate the future of maritime technology?

Join TKMS Atlas UK, a successful and ever-expanding company, in our quest for a System Design Authority (SDA) within our Submarine Systems division. This role is instrumental in driving delivery excellence and shaping our future business growth.

About TKMS Atlas UK

TKMS Atlas UK is a global leader in developing, supplying, and supporting cutting-edge maritime technology. Headquartered in Winfrith, Dorset, we work in close partnership with the UK Royal Navy and international clients to create products that safeguard lives at sea.

The Role of our SDAs

Our SDAs are at the forefront of technical leadership and systems engineering, driving the development of solutions from conceptualization to customer acceptance. Beyond this, they retain technical ownership and authority as our systems are deployed, supported, and adapted throughout their operational lives.

The SDA role demands close collaboration with our customers, project managers, and colleagues within our internal Engineering and Production divisions. This ensures that our products and services not only meet customer needs but also excel in challenging underwater environments, where reliability is paramount.

Key Responsibilities and Scope:

As an SDA, you will collaborate with the divisions Product Managers to promote AEUKs capabilities and engage with customers and stakeholders to secure future business opportunities. This involves analyzing requirements, developing solution concepts, and translating them into high-level architectural designs and system specifications. Working closely with technical leaders in the Engineering Division, youll prepare technical proposals and support Bid Managers in responding to invitations to tender and requests for quotations.

For ongoing projects, youll take on the technical management of allocated initiatives, overseeing all aspects of systems engineering management. Your collaboration will extend to divisional Project Managers, colleagues in Engineering and Production Divisions, other business support functions, and external suppliers. Ensuring the timely delivery of products and services in line with project plans and performance targets is central to your role.

Youll also engage with colleagues in other Divisions to align customer and self-funded research with Submarine Systems division product development. This includes identifying and road-mapping key enabling technologies and actively contributing to TKMS Atlas UKs standardization initiative. As the SDA, youll own the long‑term plan for product development and updates.

What You Can Expect:

Successful candidates will embark on projects across the entire product lifecycle, from concept to assessment, demonstration, acceptance, and in-service support. This post offers an excellent career development pathway, catering to both less experienced candidates and seasoned professionals, with ample room for career progression.

Qualifications and Qualities:

Candidates should possess a systems thinking mindset, understanding the broader operational context of customer requirements and user needs. Previous experience in product lifecycles, systems design, system modeling, analysis, requirements management, testing, acceptance, production, or support would be advantageous. Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

• Sonar/seismic arrays
• Sensor data and signal processing, cabling, and telemetry
• Real‑time systems, decision support systems, and their infrastructure
• Towed array and cable handling systems
• Weapon and Countermeasure systems
• Noise, vibration, and electromagnetic data gathering, analysis, and management
• Acoustic and RF systems
• Industrial automation and control systems
• Safety systems
• Physical and system modeling and simulation
• Future submarine design concepts and technologies

Familiarity with the UK Submarine Enterprise is not mandatory, and applications from diverse backgrounds are encouraged. If youre interested in transitioning to a new industry, we offer support to help you gain domain knowledge. Effective communication skills, experience in technical report writing, and the ability to establish productive working relationships with customers, military staff, and stakeholders are essential.

Why Choose TKMS Atlas UK?

With a reputation for providing innovative underwater systems for the Royal Navy (RN) and export customers, TKMS ATLAS UK operates from our Headquarters on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Through science, engineering and R&D we convert data into information, knowledge and capabilities that challenge the status quo, and offer winning advantage at the frontline.

Our people are at the heart of our success, an open and stimulating workspace empowers and encourages our people to be creative and act with integrity. Despite our continued growth, TKMS ATLAS UK pride ourselves on retaining a friendly and welcoming culture. As well as boasting a substantial benefits package, we offer progression and personal development opportunities, competitive remuneration, flexible working and a generous pension scheme. The continuous investment in our unique in‑house test and integration facilities has supported TKMS ATLAS UK growth in supplying UK and global markets with submarine and ship systems. This includes sonar, autonomous systems, marine electric actuation and mine counter‑measures. Our Portland Harbour waterside facilities provide an excellent environment to test systems at sea. As a leading innovative maritime systems company, TKMS ATLAS UK operate throughout all phases of the acquisition and engineering lifecycles, from concept to in‑service support.

• Career Development and Training
• 25 days holiday (increasing to 28 days after 5 years employment and 30 days after 10 years)
• Dental Cover and Employee Assistance Programme

At TKMS ATLAS UK, we support our staff to create work‑life balance and encourage applications from individuals who are looking for part time or condensed hours as well as full time opportunities.

The successful candidate must be able to achieve full SC (Security Clearance).