Staff Principal Systems Engineer

As a lead for the unmanned systems modelling and control discipline, you drive MBSE-driven design and verification for autonomous air, land and maritime platforms. You mentor a growing team and translate customer needs into robust system architectures. You build high‑fidelity 6‑DOF models and flight‑critical controls, integrate simulations and hardware‑in‑the‑loop, and enable real‑world trials that advance safety and security. This role blends hands‑on engineering with leadership in a global, collaboration‑heavy environment.

• Competitive base salary
• 25 days annual leave + holidays
• Employer pension with 2:1 company contributions up to 10%
• Private medical insurance
• Health & Wellbeing cash plan
• Life assurance & income protection

• Lead the modelling & control discipline for unmanned systems and mentor the team
• Translate customer needs into system requirements and architectures using Model-Based Systems Engineering
• Develop high‑fidelity 6‑DOF models and flight‑critical control/autonomy algorithms
• Build and run integrated simulation and HIL/“Iron Bird” environments for V&V and system integration
• Implement and integrate control & autonomy code on embedded systems, defining data links and interfaces
• Plan and participate in flight tests, trials and demonstrations with live tuning
• Analyze flight/test data and perform rapid debugging in lab and field environments
• Maintain technical quality, risk and compliance, including handling export-controlled technologies (e.g., ITAR)

• Expert in MATLAB/Simulink with Stateflow, project management of requirements/version control/data dictionaries/test harnesses and RTW/code generation for embedded processors
• Proven experience designing and validating 6‑DOF dynamic models and simulation model test harnesses
• Hands‑on UAV flight control computer (autopilot) / FMS integration and validation across lifecycle
• Experience defining onboard data interfaces (CAN, serial, Ethernet) and working with wiring diagrams
• Experience integrating/testing UAS payloads and sensors (EO/IR/EW/LIDAR) and comms/datalink systems including RF cabling
• Proven ability to create GNSS-denied/contested guidance and navigation algorithms
• Proficient in SIL/HIL test design and execution for 6‑DOF models and Iron Bird/bench setups
• Strong test data processing and automated analysis scripting; capable of in-flight control tuning and system identification
• Experience with FMEA/FHA and implementing redundancy and safety architectures for unmanned systems
• Experience designing complex unmanned control system architectures from base requirements and CONOPS
• Leadership in modelling & simulation teams and willingness to mentor junior engineers
• Proficiency in C/C++ for APIs and embedded applications
• Familiarity with CFD outputs and their application to 6‑DOF models
• Eligible for SC security clearance and international travel readiness

• Strong team player with stakeholder-facing presence
• Ability to maintain cohesion under pressure
• Clear willingness to train and mentor others
• MATLAB/Simulink
• Stateflow
• RTW/code generation for embedded processors