Systems Engineering Manager

Amentum; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free single medical cover

Digital GP services

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Employee assistance programmes

Professional development reimbursement

Matched funding schemes

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a Systems Engineering Manager with strong Defence experience to lead delivery across bid and programme phases. You will define engineering approaches, manage multi‑disciplinary teams, and ensure high‑quality outcomes across the full system lifecycle.

You will apply expertise in requirements, architecture, integration, verification and governance, aligning with ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 and MOD frameworks to deliver trusted solutions for UK Defence programmes.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering or related field required.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills essential.
• Experience delivering complex systems engineering projects in UK Defence environments.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles, processes, and lifecycle models (e.g. V-model, Agile, hybrid).
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 and MOD governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering activities across Defence programmes, including requirements, architecture, integration, verification, validation, and in-service support.
• Define and implement SE Management Plans (SEMPs) for bid and delivery phases.
• Manage engineering inputs to bids and proposals, including solution development and estimation.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and partner organisations to deliver integrated solutions.
• Ensure alignment with relevant standards and governance frameworks (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, MOD).
• Oversee planning, resource allocation, risk management, and delivery performance.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to provide technical leadership and decision support.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Systems engineering

Defence sector experience

Technical governance

Bid/tender experience

Education

Degree in Engineering or related field

Systems Engineering certification (desirable)

Job description

Amentum is a global leader in engineering, project and programme management, and solutions integration. Built on strong programme and engineering delivery experience, supported by deep specialist capabilities, Amentum is a recognised partner across major UK Government and commercial programmes.

People are at the centre of what we do. We offer a competitive package designed to attract and retain talent. In addition to standard benefits, UK employees receive free single medical cover, digital GP services, enhanced family‑friendly policies, employee assistance programmes, and reimbursement for professional development. Our community initiatives include matched‑funding schemes, paid volunteering, and charitable contributions.

About the Opportunity:

Amentum are offering an exciting opportunity to join our growing team of IT professionals to work on a range of projects for our diverse client portfolio that covers Critical National Infrastructure, National Security, Defence and Nuclear market sectors. Our team is growing and are we looking for proactive and collaborative professionals of all levels to work within us in providing a range of services to our clients. With our deep technical, commercial, and strategic expertise we develop solutions that address our client’s critical challenges supporting digitalisation and security.

We are looking for a Systems Engineering Manager with strong Defence experience to lead the delivery of complex systems engineering activities across both bid and programme execution phases. You will be responsible for defining engineering approaches, managing multi-disciplinary teams, and ensuring high-quality delivery across the full system lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead systems engineering activities across complex Defence programmes, spanning requirements, architecture, integration, verification, validation, and in-service support.
• Define and implement Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs) and associated artefacts for both bid and delivery phases.
• Manage engineering inputs to bids and proposals, including solution development, estimation, and technical governance.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary engineering teams and partner organisations to deliver integrated system solutions.
• Ensure alignment with systems engineering standards (e.g. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288) and MOD governance frameworks.
• Oversee engineering planning, resource allocation, risk management, and delivery performance across projects.
• Engage with senior stakeholders, providing technical leadership, assurance, and decision support across Defence programmes.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability.
• Ability to operate in complex, fast‑paced, and high‑assurance environments.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, processes, and lifecycle models (e.g. V‑model, Agile, hybrid approaches).

Experience:

• Proven experience delivering complex systems engineering projects within UK Defence environments (e.g. MOD, DE&S, Defence Digital).
• Strong experience managing systems engineering across the full lifecycle, including bid, design, integration, and delivery phases.
• Experience leading engineering teams within complex, multi‑supplier environments.
• Experience contributing to and leading bid activities, including technical solution development and estimation.
• Experience in requirements management, system architecture, integration, and verification & validation.
• Ability to define and govern engineering processes and ensure quality across deliverables.

Standards & Frameworks:

• Strong knowledge of systems engineering standards (e.g. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288).
• Familiarity with MOD frameworks, governance, and delivery environments [highly desirable].
• Awareness of architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, MODAF, UAF).

Our Culture:

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion, and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business, and we genuinely believe that we all succeed by supporting one another through our culture of caring. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we are more connected, and if we are diverse, we’re more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks centred on inclusion and diversity.

We partner with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain diverse talent. For greater online accessibility, please visit Promoting Equality & Diversity in Jobs and Career - VERCIDA to view and access our roles. As a Disability Confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

Your application experience is important to us and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. We welcome feedback on our recruitment process and if you need more from us before deciding to join us then please let us know.