Systems Engineer

Stark Defence; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Stark Defence in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced Systems Engineer to lead system-level integration for next-generation Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). You will define architecture, manage integration and verification, and drive system validation through sea trials and acceptance testing.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams across the lifecycle, producing ICDs, integration plans, and test reports, while coordinating with suppliers and customers to ensure on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Systems, Maritime, Aerospace, Electrical or related Engineering discipline.
• Significant industry experience with demonstrable systems engineering responsibility on complex autonomous platforms.
• Strong practical experience integrating complex systems: power, RF/EMC, EO sensors, networking, payload interfaces.
• Proven track record applying V‑Model techniques in engineering projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the system integration lead for USV product development and upgrades.
• Work with mechanical, electrical, control hardware, software, and test teams across the lifecycle.
• Conceptualise and capture system architecture; produce trade studies and performance assessments.
• Design communications pathways, distribution, and redundancy tactics.
• Lead V&V and acceptance activities: write test plans, schedule tests, compile reports.
• Support bench builds, hardware integration, and hands-on vessel testing (VLOS/BVLOS).
• Coordinate payload integration with suppliers and customers; manage interfaces.
• Analyze test telemetry to identify trends and improve reliability.

Skills

Systems engineering

V‑Model methods

Multidisciplinary teamwork

System integration

Education

Degree in Systems/Maritime/Aerospace/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Interface Control Documents (ICDs)

Telemetry analysis tools

Job description

About Us

STARK is bringing its expertise in software-defined unmanned systems to the maritime domain. Traditional fleets alone cannot safeguard this vast, critical space. Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) extend naval reach at lower cost and reduced risk to personnel.

Our maritime family of systems is AI-enabled and built for reliable performance in the harshest seas, delivering NATO a fully integrated hardware–software capability for scalable ISR and strike operations.

About the team

This will be reporting into the Maritime Director.

Your mission

You will lead system-level integration for next-generation Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV), ensuring all mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems operate as a single, mission-ready platform. As a Systems Engineer you will define architecture and interfaces, manage integration and verification activities, and drive system validation through sea trials and acceptance testing.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the system integration lead for USV product development and upgrades, owning overall platform coherency from concept through delivery.
• Work day-to-day within multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, control hardware, software, test) across the full lifecycle of USV design, integration, test and fielding.
• Conceptualise and capture system architecture for new platforms and for enhancements to existing platforms, producing technical trade studies, sizing and system performance assessments.
• Systems-level design of communications pathways, distribution and redundancy tactics
• Produce layout and system design plans, define Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and enforce interface control processes for mechanical, electrical and software subsystems.
• Lead Verification & Validation (V&V) and acceptance activities: author test plans and procedures for critical subsystems, schedule and run tests, and compile written test reports.
• Support bench builds and hardware integration, and conduct hands‑on vessel testing (VLOS/BVLOS) including travel to test ranges and customer sites as required.
• Act as the technical interface between internal teams, suppliers and customers to coordinate payload integration, unique/custom hardware or software interfaces, and ensure on‑time capability delivery.
• Perform data analysis to maximise uptime: review test telemetry, identify trends and failure modes, and contribute to predictive maintenance / reliability improvements.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Systems, Maritime, Aerospace, Electrical or a closely related Engineering discipline.
• Significant industry experience with demonstrable systems engineering responsibility on complex Autonomous systems platforms
• Strong practical experience integrating complex systems: power systems, RF/EMC, EO sensors, networking, embedded controllers and payload interfaces.
• Proven track record in applying V‑Model techniques within an engineering design project
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; highly organised and detail‑oriented.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast‑moving, ambiguous environments and to travel within the UK/Europe for testing and integration.
• A genuine passion for system development, integration and testing and a collaborative, inclusive team approach.
• Ideally you will hold a UK Security clearance or be eligible to obtain UK defence clearance and be able to travel to the South West England area when required

Nice to have

• Maritime product development experience and familiarity with appropriate standards: MCT/IMO/DNV.
• Background in start‑up or scale‑up environments where rapid prototyping, iterative testing and pragmatic engineering decisions are typical.

Our Commitment to the Armed Forces Community

We are proud to hold the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), reflecting our meaningful commitment and ongoing support for UK defence personnel. At our core, we believe in championing those who serve, those who have served, and their families. As part of this scheme, we are dedicated to providing an inclusive, supportive environment where members of the Armed Forces community can thrive and bring their invaluable skills to our team.