Principal Systems Engineer

Gold Group; Portsmouth (NH); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Gold Group is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer in Portsmouth with hybrid work (3+ days on site). The role requires 5+ years in systems engineering, MBSE, and V&V, with eligibility for UK SC Clearance and no sponsorship. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams and govern engineering performance across design, integration and assurance activities.

You will manage requirements, interfaces, risk, and ensure end-to-end traceability while mentoring engineers in MBSE and system-level thinking.

Qualifications

• Proven systems engineering across lifecycle; MBSE and V&V experience.
• Experience with high-level design methods (UAF/NAF/TOGAF/SysML/UML) and MBSE tools.
• Degree in STEM or related field; pursuing CEng or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Understand problem space, define interfaces, and maintain traceability.
• Capture and decompose requirements; manage changes and criteria.
• Champion MBSE; govern design, V&V and compliance outputs.
• Plan integration, prepare for reviews, drive verification activities.
• Lead technical reviews; manage risks and opportunities.
• Mentor engineers and improve engineering processes.

Skills

MBSE

Requirements Mgmt

Architecture Definition

System Integration

V&V

Enterprise Architect

DOORS

Education

STEM degree

CEng target

Tools

Enterprise Architect

DOORS

Job description

Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer

Location: Portsmouth - Hybrid 3+ days per week on-site

Role Type: Permanent

Salary: £57,000 depending on experience + 10% bonus

Our client, an established defence firm, require an experienced Principal Systems Engineer to join their multi-disciplined team based in Portsmouth.

Candidates would need to be eligible for UK SC Clearance - 5+ years residency in the UK and right to work (no sponsorship).

As a Principal Systems Engineer you will support the delivery of one or more of the core marine engineering service elements; Design Change Management, Platform Technical Assurance, Material State Management, Obsolescence Management, Specialist Engineering Support, Future Support and Transformation Planning.

What the role of the Principal Systems Engineer entails:

Some of the main duties of the Principal Systems Engineer will include:

• You will understand the full problem space, surface constraints and emergent behaviours, balance trade-offs (performance, cost, schedule, safety, security), and define clear, testable success criteria. Define and maintain how a system works and how they interact; keep interfaces stable; record key decisions and trade-offs; and support bids and concept studies with evidence-based architectures
• You will work with stakeholders to capture, decompose and agree requirements; set acceptance criteria; maintain end-to-end traceability; and manage change with clear impact assessments
• You will champion and govern MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) to capture system definition, behaviour, structure and interfaces; utilise the necessary toolset (e.g. Enterprise Architect); set modelling standards; keep models and documents in sync; and generate controlled outputs that support design, V&V and compliance
• You will tailor and work with the engineering lifecycle; when required, plan progressive integration, prepare teams for design and test reviews, and drive verification and validation to achieve on-time, high-quality customer acceptance. Drive and support systems integration activities collaboratively with other WTA disciplines when required
• You will act as the technical expert for assigned scope; lead technical reviews; follow engineering governance; meet safety and security obligations; and contribute to the evidence needed for assurance and accreditation. Own and deliver concurrent work packages to cost, schedule and quality; define statements of work and technical acceptance; align multi-domain stakeholders; resolve conflicts and issues; and manage technical risks and opportunities
• You will mentor and coach engineers; promote systems engineering and improve ways of working across Asset Management

What experience you need to be the successful Principal Systems Engineer:

• You'll have proven experience of applying systems engineering across the lifecycle, including requirements management, architecture definition, integration, MBSE and V&V
• You will be experienced of using high level design methodologies and architectures (e.g. UAF, NAF, TOGAF, SysML, UML) and practical capability in MBSE, using tools such as Enterprise Architect to model system behaviour, structure and interfaces. Additionally, you will have experience using requirements and interface management toolsets (e.g., DOORS), maintaining traceability and controlling system interfaces
• You will be Degree level qualified (or have equivalent experience) in a STEM or systems related discipline, with desirable awareness of maritime or ship systems. You must be working towards CEng or operating at that level of capability
• You will have an ability to lead, guide and mentor engineers, providing clear technical direction and supporting capability growth