Trainee Systems Engineer - PhD Graduates

ZipRecruiter; Basildon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A top-tier defense firm in Basildon is offering a unique 2-year fully paid Systems Engineering LEAP programme aimed at graduates with a PhD in a STEM subject. The role focuses on developing engineering skills and includes mentorship, structured training, and future permanent employment opportunities. Ideal candidates should be committed, analytical, and eager to learn while ensuring compliance with security clearance requirements.

Benefits

Fully paid development programme

Mentoring and community support

Future permanent employment opportunities

Qualifications

• PhD, EngD or relevant research experience in STEM.
• Solid technical foundation is essential.
• Eligibility for full security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct early-stage research and engage with stakeholders.
• Transform stakeholder needs into specifications.
• Support integration/build and write test plans.

Skills

Commitment

Willingness to learn

Analytical thinking

Curiosity

Open-mindedness

Education

PhD or EngD in STEM

Job description

Job Description

Do you have a PhD in a STEM subject?

Do you love the technical detail?

Does learning new stuff interest you?

Would you thrive in a collaborative environment?

Are you an innovator?

Do you want to make the leap from Academia into Engineering?

Then the Systems Engineering LEAP programme is for you!

What is the Systems Engineering LEAP programme?

The Systems Engineering LEAP Programme is designed for great people who have transferable skills, delivering opportunities to start a career in Systems Engineering with a leading UK Defence company.

• 2 year fully paid Systems Engineering development programme.
• Giving you a great career in Systems Engineering.
• Structured applied training and development journey.
• Employment with a leading Defence company working on the latest programmes.
• Mentoring and peer-to-peer community support throughout.
• Future permanent employment.

What you'll do as a Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers work across a range of activities that help pull together all the necessary engineering and technology strands into a complex system. As a Systems Engineer, you will bridge the gap between the theoretically possible and the practically implementable.

We are searching for the next of Systems Engineers who come from a variety of backgrounds and skillsets. Based on your skills and foundation knowledge, we will provide suitable training and skills enhancement to transform you into a Systems Engineer.

Typical work you might be involved in includes conducting early-stage research, engaging with stakeholders, transforming stakeholder needs into specifications, creating system architectures/designs, analysing designs, supporting integration/build, writing test plans, and supporting installation and trials.

What we need from you

You will have a PhD, EngD or other relevant research experience within a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subject.

We are not expecting you to have deep theoretical knowledge of the technologies; what we are looking for are scientists and engineers with a solid technical foundation that we can build upon through training, team working, and mentoring.

Personal attributes and values are just as important to us as technical ability, so we are looking for engineers with a willingness to learn, progress and develop through our devoted technical career path. You will need to be:

• Committed - We\'re seeking people who are committed to personal development and a new career in Systems Engineering.
• Keen to Develop - No matter how good our development programme is, it will require pro-active learning within your role; the faster you learn, the more accelerated your development will.
• Analytical and Methodical - Together these traits enable Systems Engineers to create robust and scalable systems, ensuring they always meet the user needs.
• Curious - Systems Engineers need to understand the "why", so being naturally curious will put you well on your way to being great at this new career already!
• Open minded - You'll be working with multi-disciplinary and diverse teams of people, so a positive and open mind is essential.

All successful applicants must be eligible for full security clearance and access to UK-caveated and ITAR controlled information.

Apply now to find out more about the LEAP Programme and embark on an exciting new career in Systems Engineering!