System Engineering Manager

Innovate; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK defence technology organisation is seeking an experienced Engineering Leader to oversee engineering delivery on complex regulated programmes. The role involves leading multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring adherence to governance standards, and managing technical risks. Candidates should possess strong systems engineering knowledge and experience in Defence or Aerospace sectors. This position offers significant influence within nationally important programmes and requires candidates to undergo DV clearance.

Qualifications

• Proven multidisciplinary leadership within Defence or Aerospace environments.
• Strong Systems Engineering lifecycle knowledge is essential.
• Exposure to Command & Control, secure communications, encryption, sensors or integrated defence capability.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead end-to-end engineering delivery across one or more programmes.
• Lead multi-discipline teams and manage technical dependencies.
• Identify and mitigate technical risk; manage change and configuration control.
• Ensure artefacts meet contractual, regulatory and governance requirements.
• Support programme planning and schedule optimisation.
• Act as senior engineering interface with customers and stakeholders.
• Align resource capability with programme demand and future growth.

Skills

Multidisciplinary leadership

Systems Engineering lifecycle knowledge

Technical risk management

Change and configuration control

Stakeholder management

Job description

I’m partnering with a leading UK defence technology organisation delivering advanced mission-critical systems that operate across land, maritime and airborne domains.

We’re looking for an experienced Engineering Leader to take full ownership of engineering delivery across complex, regulated programmes. This is a high-impact role leading multi-disciplinary teams and ensuring delivery to scope, cost, schedule and governance standards aligned to ISO 15288 lifecycle principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and lead end-to-end engineering delivery across one or more programmes
• Lead multi-discipline teams and manage technical dependencies
• Identify and mitigate technical risk; manage change and configuration control
• Ensure artefacts meet contractual, regulatory and governance requirements
• Support programme planning, Basis of Estimate inputs and schedule optimisation
• Act as senior engineering interface with customers, suppliers and stakeholders
• Align resource capability with programme demand and future growth

Requirements

• Proven multidisciplinary leadership within Defence or Aerospace environments
• Strong Systems Engineering lifecycle knowledge
• Exposure to Command & Control, secure communications, encryption, sensors or integrated defence capability

This is a challenging brief requiring technical credibility, commercial awareness and strong leadership — but it offers real ownership and influence within nationally significant programmes.

Please note that this role requires candidates to undergo DV clearance.