System Engineering Team Lead

BAE Systems - UK; Preston; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in Preston is seeking a Systems Engineering Team Lead to develop advanced sensing systems for next-gen military aircraft. This role entails leading engineering teams, managing relationships with international stakeholders, and ensuring successful delivery through the engineering lifecycle. A degree in a STEM field and engineering management experience are essential. The position offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits, including pension schemes and health plans.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible discounted health benefits

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• Degree in a STEM subject or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience leading and managing engineering teams and suppliers/partners.
• Systems engineering and engineering lifecycle experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop the next generation of mission systems across the engineering lifecycle.
• Lead concepting, architecting, requirements management, and design.
• Provide oversight and technical leadership to systems engineering activities.

Skills

Leadership and management of engineering teams

Systems engineering

Engineering lifecycle experience

Experience with RF systems (e.g. Radar)

Education

Degree in a STEM subject or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Title: System Engineering Team Lead

Location: Warton - Onsite

Salary: £54,800+ depending on experience and skills

The Mission Systems Delivery Team

As our Systems Engineering Team Lead, you will join a fast‑paced team working to develop an advanced and highly capable sensing system at the heart of the next generation combat air systems. In this role, there is opportunity to work as a tri‑national, international team, developing relationships and experience across cultures.

You will play a pivotal role in the development and delivery of all sensor sub‑system engineering activities, delivering the next generation of military aircraft across the UK, Japan and Italy.

You will be presented with opportunities to develop sensing technologies, work with key partners & suppliers and customers, and gain exposure to a wider range of internal and external stakeholders.

What you’ll be doing

You will get the opportunity to develop the next generation of mission systems across the engineering lifecycle, from requirements through to design, development and implementation.

The successful candidate could be expected to lead activities such as concepting, architecting, requirements management and design for their area of responsibility as part of the mission systems team and a broader multi‑functional engineering team.

The successful candidate will also be required to:

• Provide oversight / technical leadership of systems engineering activities to supplier and partner activities.
• Follow systems engineering principles to develop sub‑system concepts that meet customer needs/requirements in partnership with international stakeholders.
• Develop and execute engineering plans and provide oversight and review of delivery performance to support progression through engineering maturity gate reviews.
• Undertake line management and leadership of an engineering team (including partners & suppliers).

Your skills and experiences

Essential

• A degree in a STEM subject or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience of leading and managing engineering teams and suppliers/partners.
• Systems engineering and engineering lifecycle experience.

Desirable

• Experience of working with Radio Frequency (RF) systems (e.g. Radar).

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits—including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts. You may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Mission Systems Delivery team

As our Mission System Radar Lead Engineer, you will join a fast‑paced team working on an advanced and highly capable sensing system at the heart of the next generation combat air systems. In this role, there is opportunity to work as a tri‑national team, developing international relationships and experience across cultures.

You will play a pivotal role in the development and delivery of all radar engineering activities, delivering the next generation of military aircraft across the UK, Japan and Italy.

You will be presented with opportunities to develop sensing technologies, work with key partners & suppliers and customers, and gain exposure to a wider range of internal and external stakeholders.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (e.g. dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder, etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export‑control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must, as a minimum, achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants typically need 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing date: 25th November 2025