Systems Lead - Defence Programme

We're recruiting a Systems Lead to join a major defence programme within a secure cyber environment. This is a senior Systems Engineering position with responsibility for leading delivery across a programme and multiple projects, ensuring robust lifecycle governance, technical coherence, and high-quality evidence to support acceptance.

You'll be accountable for assuring the application of ISO 15288 Systems Engineering processes across the full lifecycle, owning the technical solution aligned to customer requirements, and providing technical direction across architecture, design, implementation, risk and verification activities.

• Lead Systems Engineering activity across a programme/projects, owning Systems work packages and ensuring delivery to agreed plans, quality, schedule and budget.
• Support programme leadership with delegated engineering management responsibilities.
• Provide technical direction and influence across requirements, architecture, design trade-offs, risk mitigation and implementation approach.
• Work closely with systems, hardware, firmware and software architects/design authorities to ensure consistency and technical excellence.
• Plan and lead technical/design reviews with senior stakeholders and customers.
• Manage technical balance between requirements, solution maturity, risk, schedule and cost.
• Engage with customers and suppliers to define expectations and drive technical acceptance.
• Support bids/proposals through effort/cost/risk estimation and technical input where required.
• Mentor and coach engineers/discipline leads and contribute to capability improvement across the wider systems function.
• Ensure information is handled in accordance with security policies and relevant government regulations.

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Mathematics or Physics, or significant Defence/Aerospace industry experience.
• Strong Systems Engineering background across the full lifecycle (including System-of-Systems / capability delivery experience).
• Significant requirements experience (producing high-quality requirements and compliant solutions).
• Demonstrable experience applying engineering standards/practices aligned to ISO/IEEE/IEC frameworks.
• Technical leadership and line management experience leading Systems engineers across programmes/projects.
• Excellent technical documentation skills and experience participating in formal technical reviews.
• Background in hands-on delivery of hardware, software or firmware embedded solutions.

• INCOSE accreditation (ASEP/CSEP/ESEP)
• Familiarity with NCSC security processes and delivery of associated security artefacts
• Experience acting as an SME and developing new technical depth as required

Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be able to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance