Chief Systems Engineer - Precision Guidance

As Chief Systems Engineer in the Precision Guidance area, you will lead systems engineering governance and capability development to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions. You’ll shape architectures and technical direction across complex programmes, working with cross-functional teams to embed Systems Thinking. Your role focuses on lifecycle management, modelling and simulation, and ensuring robust engineering practices. You thrive in dynamic environments, influence stakeholders, and mentor engineers to lift performance. This is a pivotal opportunity to strengthen SE capability, drive coherent design, and contribute to mission‑critical defence programmes.

• generous leave with up to 12 flexi-days
• pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution
• mental health support and wellbeing resources
• 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning
• bonus scheme
• flexible benefits allowance (up to 500 annually)

• Serve as focal point for systems engineering governance and lifecycle management across programmes
• Influence engineering artefact quality and coherence across the FC/ASW programme
• Coach engineers to understand problem space, stakeholder needs, and constraints
• Apply concept development, modelling, simulation, and architectural techniques to inform decisions
• Address whole-life design considerations (Safety, Security, Manufacture, Test, Supportability)
• Identify trends and lessons learned to improve future work and act as a change agent for SE capability
• Collaborate with peers to promote continual learning and improve systemic efficiency

• Experience applying Systems Engineering governance and lifecycle management
• Track record delivering high-quality artefacts within Integrated Project Teams
• Stakeholder elicitation and architecture definition experience
• Leadership and decision-making in a high-complexity, senior role
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; trusted influencer
• Experience with MBSE tools and methodologies
• Experience on large-scale Systems Integration programmes (cost, schedule, quality)
• Domain experience in RF, EW, Electro-Optics, platform integration, sensor fusion, AI/ML
• Proficient with Cameo Systems Modeler, Matlab, Simulink, DOORS (classic)

• strong communication and interpersonal abilities
• leadership and decision-making in dynamic environments
• ability to influence and build trust across levels
• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) governance
• Lifecycle Management (LCM)
• systems modelling and simulation