Principal Systems Design Engineer - Future Products

MBDA S.A.S.; United States; Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension up to 14%

Overtime pay

Flexi Leave up to 15 days

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced parental leave up to 26 weeks

Healthcare and wellness benefits

Job summary

MBDA is seeking a forward-thinking Principal Systems Design Engineer to shape the next generation of missile systems. This role sits at the intersection of early design and strategic growth, transforming high-level concepts into viable technical scopes for major national and international programs.

You will lead the technical narrative, bridging customer needs and deliverable plans across domains such as Deep Strike, Hypersonics, and Air Defence, with strong emphasis on MBSE and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Systems Engineering, especially in early-phase conceptual work.
• Experience developing and applying requirements to translate customer needs into specifications.
• Ability to engage across Physical Architecture, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Guidance, Control & Navigation.

Responsibilities

• Concept Development & Funnelling: lead evaluation of options and down-select technically.
• Functional Architecture & Performance: define functional behaviour and system-level performance.
• Missile System Capability: define capabilities to meet operational needs.
• Technical Delivery & Planning: own milestones and translate goals into deliverables.
• Requirements Orchestration: capture customer needs into CPS, SRS, TRS specifications.
• Strategic Collaboration: align technical strategy with business objectives.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Technical leadership

Requirements orchestration

Functional architecture

MBSE

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Business development awareness

Tools

MBSE

Job description

As a Future Products, Principal Systems Design Engineer, you will join a technical function dedicated to defining the next generation of missiles/effectors and integrated weapon system capabilities. This role is positioned at the critical intersection of early-phase design and strategic growth, where you will transform high-level concepts into viable technical scopes that ensure long‑term success in major national and international programs. Rather than following a pre‑defined path, you will help create the roadmap. You will operate in a high‑visibility capacity, providing essential engineering expertise into the Future Business areas (such as Deep Strike, Hypersonics, Tactical Strike, Air Domain, Air Defence, Battlefield and Future Combat Air Systems) to ensure that new opportunities are technically grounded and competitively positioned. Why this role is compelling: This position offers the opportunity to lead the technical narrative during the most creative phase of the product lifecycle. You will have the autonomy to explore new functionality and apply cutting‑edge Systems Engineering techniques to solve complex problems before they are fully defined. You will act as a key technical integrator, bridging the gap between ambitious customer needs and deliverable engineering plans What you will be doing: Your focus will be on the logical and functional evolution of the system. You will lead activities across the system design spectrum, with examples of your focus areas including:

• Concept Development & Funnelling: Leading the conceptualization process, managing the evaluation of various options, and driving the rigorous "funnelling" process toward technical down‑selection.
• Functional Architecture & Performance: Defining the functional behaviour and system‑level performance requirements, ensuring the logical architecture supports the overarching mission goals.
• Missile System Capability: Defining the specific capabilities of the missile system to ensure it meets operational needs, focusing on the missile system design.
• Technical Delivery & Planning: Owning the technical milestones for task groups and collaborating with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to translate high‑level goals into detailed, deliverable plans of work.
• Requirements Orchestration: Leading the early capture of customer needs and translating them into structured specifications (such as CPS, SRS, and TRS) using industry‑standard approaches & tools.
• Strategic Collaboration: Engaging with stakeholders at all levels to align technical strategy with business objectives

If you are a Systems Engineering professional who enjoys the challenge of early‑phase design and possesses the drive to steer the technical direction of future missile systems, this is an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting impact, Employees receive 25 days of paid annual leave per calendar year, in addition to all statutory and public holidays. After 5, 10 and 15 years of service, an additional day of annual leave is added to your allowance at each of these milestones. You can also enjoy more time off by purchasing up to an additional five days holiday through payroll., We trust our people to agree, within their teams, where and when they can be most effective. Our Dynamic Working policies allow individuals great levels of flexibility around the hours they work and where they work. Depending on your role and function, this may include options for paid overtime, dynamic leave (time in lieu) and more., Our MBDA Retirement Savings Plan is a 'Defined Contribution' plan in the Mercer Master Trust. The standard contributions are 4% of an employee's base salary and 6% employer contributions. You can increase both employee and employer contributions by up to 2%. Financial Awareness - Employees have access to free financial webinars hosted throughout the year, along with access to a financial education website which provides plenty of useful hints, tips and guidance on managing financial wellness. Share Incentive Plan - Acquire shares in our UK Shareholder, BAE Systems PLC, the scheme is tax efficient on shares purchased. Mortgage Advice - As part of our financial wellbeing initiative employees can access free of charge mortgage advice and webinars. Season Ticket Loan - Employees can borrow the value of public transport season ticket for bus or train journeys to and from work and spread the cost over 12 months. Critical Illness - To help reduce the financial impact after being diagnosed with a critical illness, employees receive a tax‑free lump sum payment that can be used for any purpose including covering medical expenses, adjustments to lifestyle and more., Employee Assistance Programme - The Employee Assistance Programme is free, independent, confidential and is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year. Employees have access to short‑term counselling (which includes up to 8 structured face to face, telephone or virtual sessions). Voluntary Private Medical Insurance - Private Medical Insurance offers three healthcare plans to suit your individual requirements for you and your family. Funded Private Medical Insurance - Eligible employees (Grade C & Above) are enrolled as standard into the company funded Private Medical Insurance benefit. Dental Insurance - The Dental Insurance benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday dental expenses such as, minor treatments, routine examinations, restorative treatment and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits. Healthcare Cash Plan - The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits. Healthcare and Leisure - The Healthcare and Leisure benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as medical fees, dentist fees, opticians and also provides access to special deals and concessions on sporting and recreational facilities.

• Extensive experience in Systems Engineering, especially desirable if within early‑phase conceptual work.
• Experience with developing and applying requirements, ideally including familiarity with approaches and tools to capture and translate customer needs into specifications.
• Ability to engage at a technical level across multiple disciplines (Physical Architecture, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Guidance Control & Navigation, etc)
• Comfortable with occasional engaging into Sales and Business Development & Strategy to understand wider objectives and direction
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and in uncertainty
• Delivery‑focused with positive and enthusiastic outlook
• Highly Desirable: experience in technical project management and competitive bidding.
• Highly Desirable: Team and Technical Leadership skills
• Desirable: Proven ability to develop Functional Architectures and system‑level performance requirements.
• Desirable: Awareness of Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee‑led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more… We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Healthworks Gym Membership - The Healthworks on‑site gym at our Stevenage site offers a range of facilities and equipment, alongside a variety of classes available during the week. Annual Gym Membership - Take advantage of discounted membership at over 3,600 of the UK's leading gym chains, leisure centres, hotel health clubs, independent gyms, boot camps and yoga studios. The Club -The Club provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy great social activities - from theatre trips, days out, to sporting activities.

We're proud to be a nationally recognised employer at MBDA. We have received a range of employer awards including Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2022; Gold awards from Investors in People, the 5% Club, and Armed Forces Covenant. We are also currently ranked #1 in the UK's Best Big Companies to Work For 2022 league table, as well as #1 for Manufacturing.

Define the next generation missile systems; we are looking for forward‑thinking Systems Design Principal Engineers, to develop and transform ambitious concepts into the technical blueprints of tomorrow's missile products. Salary: up to £57,500 depending on experience Dynamic (hybrid) working: 3‑to‑5 days per week on‑site, depending on workload classification Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual‑UK national with British citizenship Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team. A minimum of SC clearance is also required for the roles.

What we can offer you:

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year)
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more, We recognise that having or adopting a child is a significant life event for our employees and as a family friendly employer we offer a range of enhanced family leave provisions to support employees before, during and after a period of leave.

Our enhanced parental leave offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments. We also offer 2 weeks enhanced pay for paternity leave, and neonatal care leave for up to 12 weeks where a period of extended hospital care is required after birth. Employees also have access to support whilst undergoing fertility testing and treatments.

Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers

• Discounts - The Discounts platform includes a great range of features such as: discounts, instant vouchers, reloadable cards, easy saver cards, cashback, mobile app and Wellbeing Centre.
• Costco - Permanent employees of MBDA qualify for Costco's individual membership.
• Technology Vouchers - Purchase the latest gadgets and white goods up to the value of £2,500 and spread the cost over 12 months.
• Charity Donations - Donate up to five charities each month, full tax relief on all donations.
• MyCar Scheme - The MBDA MyCar Scheme offers employees the opportunity to access up to two new vehicles via a salary sacrifice arrangement including an all‑inclusive package.
• Holiday Purchase - Purchase up to 5 days' extra holiday whilst making tax and National Insurance savings, spreading the cost over 12 months.

Development of our people is of vital importance to us at MBDA, which is why we ensure everyone has access to the teams, tools and resources needed to achieve their goals. This includes our dedicated in‑house Learning & Development team, our Apprenticeship programmes, a variety of online learning platforms, and much more. We encourage new learning and will provide up to £150 in financial support per year if you wish to participate in further study in your own time. If you lead a team, or hope to do so in the future, we offer a range of management training opportunities, with paths designed for people of all experience levels.

Dynamic Working

We want our people to work when and where they feel they can be most effective. For most of our employees, we have a flexi‑time scheme that allows you to choose, within certain parameters, when you start and finish each day and how you can use time you have accrued. For roles that do not have to be based on one of our sites full‑time, you will have opportunities to work from home as part of your agreed Dynamic Working arrangement. If you have worked the time, you are also able to accrue and take up to 15 days of Flexi‑leave per annum, in addition to the 25 days of annual leave provided and bank holidays.

Security Clearance All employees at MBDA are required to hold UK Security or BPSS Clearance.