Senior Principal System Engineer

As a Senior Principal Systems Engineer at QinetiQ's Portsmouth Technology Park, you influence Royal Navy capability planning and lead Hybrid Navy delivery. You act as a technical advisor across complex System of Systems programmes and guide international defense stakeholders. The role involves shaping future concepts, managing risk, and mentoring engineering teams to deliver strategic defense solutions. You will work with MOD and RN leaders to advance critical naval capabilities in a fast-evolving domain, with SC clearance as a minimum requirement.

• Matched contribution pension with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance
• Health Cash Plan
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal

• Lead System of Systems activities across Hybrid Navy programmes
• Provide strategic technical leadership to MOD and Royal Navy customers
• Shape future capability concepts and long-term defence solutions
• Lead major technical bids, business development and customer engagement
• Manage technical risk and assurance across complex programmes
• Develop and mentor high-performing systems engineering teams

• Extensive systems engineering experience in defence, maritime or national security
• Proven leadership of large-scale System of Systems or enterprise integration programmes
• Strong understanding of defence capability development and acquisition
• Experience engaging with senior military, MOD or government stakeholders
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and delivery
• Ability to shape strategy, influence customers and develop future capability
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Systems Engineering or related discipline
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent professional registration
• Eligible for SC clearance; willing to travel to other sites

• leadership
• stakeholder engagement
• strategic thinking
• System of Systems engineering
• defence capability development
• risk management and assurance