Systems Engineer (MoD and Defence Systems)

Elvis Eckardt Recruitment; Guildford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Elvis Eckardt Recruitment is seeking a Systems Engineer specialising in MoD and Government systems for a role based in Redhill, Surrey. The position starts onsite for 6 months, then allows up to 6 remote days per month, with travel to customer sites as required.

You will design and deliver secure communications systems for UK MoD/government projects, requiring NATO nationality, UK residency for the last five years, and capability to achieve UK DV security clearance.

Qualifications

• Experience in UK MoD/defence or secure government environments.
• Strong systems or communications engineering background.
• Good IP networks and network design knowledge.
• Hands-on networking experience (Cisco CCNA level or Juniper).
• Ability to interpret requirements and deliver to specifications.
• Experience producing technical documentation.
• Ability to test, verify and troubleshoot equipment.
• Excellent communication and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and configure systems for MoD and Government projects.
• Deliver engineering projects per specifications.
• Coordinate with Projects Office for delivery success.
• Translate customer requirements into practical designs.
• Define IP structures and equipment lists.
• Provide technical guidance to teams and produce drawings.
• Verify equipment against project specs and test results.
• Support customer meetings and site visits as needed.

Skills

Systems engineering

Communications engineering

IP networks

Cisco networking (CCNA level)

Juniper networking

Requirements analysis

Technical documentation

Testing and troubleshooting

Communication & time management

Security aware / MoD experience

Customer liaison

Education

Degree in Engineering / IT / Telecommunications

Engineering degree advantageous

Tools

Cisco networking technologies

Juniper networking

Job description

Systems Engineer (MoD and Defence Systems)

Location: Redhill, Surrey

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Industry: Defence, Government & Satellite Communications

The Opportunity:

We are working with a leading international provider of secure communications, satellite communications and systems integration solutions to recruit a Systems Engineer specialising in MoD and Government systems.

The organisation supports defence, government and other mission‑critical customers with highly secure communications and network infrastructure.

This is a hands‑on engineering position involving the design, configuration, testing and delivery of systems for UK MoD and Government projects.

Due to the nature of the customers and projects involved, there are specific nationality, residency and security clearance requirements for this position.

Working Arrangements:

• The role is based in Redhill, Surrey.
• Candidates must be able to work onsite in Redhill for the first 6 months.
• Following the initial 6-month period, there is flexibility for up to 6 remote working days per month.
• Candidates must therefore live within a commutable distance of Redhill or be prepared to relocate.
• Customer‑site travel may occasionally be required.

Security & Eligibility Requirements:

Due to the sensitive nature of the defence and government projects involved:

• Candidates must be a national of a NATO member country.
• Candidates must have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.
• Candidates must hold, or be capable of achieving, UK DV Security Clearance.
• Candidates must be comfortable working within secure MoD/Government environments and complying with the associated security procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and configure systems for MoD and Government projects.
• Deliver assigned engineering projects in accordance with project specifications.
• Liaise with the Projects Office to ensure successful delivery of assigned work.
• Interpret customer and project requirements and translate them into practical system designs.
• Define IP structures for new projects.
• Define equipment lists and technical specifications.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering and project teams.
• Produce and maintain drawings and technical documentation.
• Verify technical equipment against project specifications.
• Test and evaluate new equipment.
• Verify new software builds against agreed test criteria and performance requirements.
• Support customer meetings relating to future projects, system enhancements and technical requirements.
• Visit customer sites where required to support project delivery.
• Provide technical information in support of new proposals.
• Support trials and liaise with MoD/Government agencies where required.
• Provide training on newly introduced systems.
• Participate proactively in the MoD/Government engineering support structure and rota.
• Take ownership of assigned work and deliver projects with limited supervision.

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Previous experience working within UK MoD, defence or closely related secure Government environments.
• Strong systems engineering and/or communications engineering experience.
• Good understanding of IP networks and network design.
• Hands‑on experience with Cisco networking technologies at approximately CCNA level or above, or equivalent practical experience.
• Alternatively, comparable Juniper networking experience.
• Experience interpreting technical/project requirements and delivering systems against specifications.
• Experience producing and working with technical documentation.
• Ability to test, verify and troubleshoot technical equipment and systems.
• Strong problem‑solving and engineering judgement.
• Ability to take ownership of technical work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication and time‑management skills.
• Comfortable liaising with customers, internal stakeholders and Government/Defence organisations.
• Flexible and proactive approach.

Highly Desirable:

• Broad ICT engineering experience.
• Satellite communications / SatCom experience.
• Secure communications experience.
• Defence network design experience.
• Experience with military communications infrastructure.
• Experience defining IP structures and equipment specifications.
• Systems integration experience.
• Project engineering experience.
• Existing or previous UK security clearance.
• Professional engineering registration.

Qualifications:

• Degree-level qualification in Engineering, Telecommunications, IT or another relevant discipline; or
• Relevant professional experience at an equivalent level.
• An Engineering degree would be advantageous.
• Cisco CCNA or equivalent practical experience, or comparable Juniper experience.

What Will Make You Stand Out? We are particularly interested in engineers who combine hands‑on networking and systems engineering expertise with genuine MoD/Defence experience.

You may currently be working as a:

• Defence Systems Engineer
• MoD Systems Engineer
• Communications Systems Engineer
• Defence Network Engineer
• Secure Communications Engineer
• Military Communications Engineer
• SatCom Engineer
• Systems Integration Engineer
• Defence Project Engineer

Military leavers with strong communications, networking or systems engineering experience are also encouraged to apply where they meet the technical and security requirements.

Why Apply?

• Work directly on technically challenging MoD and Government systems projects.
• Exposure to secure communications, networking and satellite technologies.
• Work across the full engineering lifecycle from requirements and design through testing and delivery.
• Join an established engineering organisation operating within the defence and secure communications sector.
• Long‑term technical and career development opportunities.
• Hybrid flexibility following the initial onsite period.

Important: Please only apply if you can meet the security and working‑location requirements.

You must be able to work onsite in Redhill for the first 6 months. Following this period, the role offers up to 6 remote working days per month. Due to the nature of the organisation's defence and government customers, candidates must be nationals of a NATO member country, have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years, and be capable of achieving the required UK security clearance.

Contact: Elvis Eckardt