Technical Lead - Complex Trials

QinetiQ Limited; West of England; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Generous holiday allowance

Health plan

Dental insurance

Discount portal

Armed Forces Covenant

Volunteering

Job summary

QinetiQ is recruiting a Technical Lead - Complex Trials at our Bristol site. You will lead technically complex defence trials across air, land and emerging technologies, coordinating multi‑discipline teams and direct engagement with MOD customers.

The role involves planning, executing and leading trials from concept to delivery, with UK travel and periods on customer sites. A degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required, and SC clearance eligibility is noted.

Qualifications

• Technical leadership and project delivery experience.
• Systems Engineering knowledge and application.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to influence and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Confidence in customer-facing environments.
• A proactive, adaptable and delivery-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• As a Trials Technical Lead, define objectives, strategies and plans for UK trials.
• Coordinate inputs from multiple disciplines and manage risks.
• Produce and review trial documentation and evidence.
• Lead technical reviews and readiness activities.
• As a Trials Lead, deploy to ranges and coordinate teams with customers.
• Lead live trial events and capture outcomes.

Skills

Technical leadership

Systems Engineering

Stakeholder engagement

Multidisciplinary coordination

Customer-facing

Delivery-focused

Education

Degree‑level qualification in an engineering discipline

Job description

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Job Title: Technical Lead - Complex Trials

Location: Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Role Type: Permanent – Full Time

Package: £56,000 – £62,250 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits

Role ID: SF20436

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Technical Lead - Complex Trials at our Bristol site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role

As a Technical Lead - Complex Trials, you’ll join our Mission Rehearsal team delivering some of the UK's most challenging and visible defence Trials activities.

Day-to-day, you’ll support Air systems, Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), Surface-to-Air Weapon Systems, One-Way Effectors and emerging defence technologies. We work directly with MOD, DE&S, Front Line Commands and industry partners to plan, coordinate and execute Trials that generate evidence, reduce risk and enable critical capability decisions.

We are seeking individuals who can operate as Trials Technical Leads, Trials Leads or ideally develop across both roles and lead activities from initial concept through to successful execution.

Why Join Us?

• Lead technically complex and nationally important Trials activities
• Work directly with MOD customers, DE&S, Front Line Commands and external partners
• Influence how future defence capabilities are developed and assessed
• Engage with cutting‑edge technologies across Air and Land domains
• Travel to UK ranges and customer locations, including deployments of up to four weeks
• Work with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, operations and programme delivery
• See the direct impact of your work through successful Trials execution and customer outcomes

Your responsibilities will include:

As a Trials Technical Lead

you will provide the leadership and technical governance required to deliver successful Trials in accordance with the Trials Process and Systems Engineering principles:

• Define Trial objectives, requirements and success criteria
• Develop Trial strategies and execution plans
• Coordinate technical inputs from multiple disciplines
• Manage risks, assumptions, dependencies and constraints
• Produce and review Trial documentation and evidence
• Lead technical reviews and readiness activities

As a Trials Lead

you will become the focal point for live Trial delivery, working closely with customers, Range operations and technical teams to ensure successful execution:

• Deploy to ranges and customer sites
• Coordinate technical teams, range staff and customers
• Lead live Trial events and demonstrations
• Manage issues and maintain momentum during execution
• Provide leadership and decision-making in dynamic environments
• Capture outcomes and lessons learned

Essential experience of the Technical Lead - Complex Trials:

• Technical leadership and project delivery experience
• Systems Engineering knowledge and application
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Ability to influence and coordinate multidisciplinary teams
• Confidence in customer‑facing environments
• A proactive, adaptable and delivery-focused mindset

Essential qualifications for the Technical Lead - Complex Trials:

• Degree‑level qualification in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g., Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Civil)

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at our Bristol site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. We’ll also consider any of our main UK locations. Travel to other QinetiQ and customer sites will be expected.

QinetiQ operates state-of-the-art facilities across the UK that focus on defence, security and technology innovation. These facilities enable QinetiQ to conduct a wide range of research, testing and development activities that support both military and civilian applications helping to advance technology and support national security.

Bristol

The QinetiQ facility in Bristol is part of the company’s broader operation focused on defence and technology innovation. The site houses a diverse team of engineers, scientists and technical professionals who bring expertise to various projects ensuring high‑quality outcomes.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing [e-mail] . One of our recruitment team will contact you.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture .www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community