UK - Lead Systems Engineer – Autonomous Systems

Job Title: Lead Systems Engineer Reports to: Head of Engineering Location: Bristol (hybrid) Type: Full time - permanent Security Clearance requirement: Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC). Role Overview We are looking for a Lead Systems Engineer to support the development, integration and verification of an advanced Interceptor UAV system. This role is equivalent to a ‘Principal or Senior-Principal’ position in most traditional defence/aerospace companies and is hands-on not a managerial position. The role will ensure the Interceptor operates as a coherent system across air vehicle, avionics, GNC, autonomy, sensors, communications, software and ground systems. The Systems Engineer will manage requirements, architecture, interfaces, system performance and verification, working closely with specialist engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle. This is an opportunity to take ownership for and shape Systems Engineering on the project - from the tools we use to the methods and processes. If you’re a passionate systems engineer who’s interested to work in an agile team environment, shape the products we develop and how we develop them then this could be the role for you. Key Responsibilities ​Lead the project Systems Engineer effort starting from an almost blank page Capture, develop and manage system and subsystem requirements. Develop and maintain the UAV system architecture and functional decomposition. Define and manage key hardware, software, electrical and communications interfaces. Maintain requirements traceability and support configuration/change control. Develop system performance budgets covering areas such as mass, power, endurance, communications, processing and sensor performance. Conduct system-level trade studies and identify technical risks and dependencies. ​Support integration of GNC, avionics, sensors, communications, autonomy and payload systems. Define and support Verification & Validation (V&V) activities across simulation, laboratory, ground and flight testing. Support SIL, HIL and system integration testing. Analyse system-level issues and coordinate resolution across engineering disciplines. Support technical design reviews, test readiness reviews and qualification activities. Work with Simulation, GNC, Software, Electronics and Flight Test teams to assess and improve overall UAV performance. ​Support field testing and customer demonstrations - travel required. Required Skill & Experience Degree in Systems, Aerospace, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline. Experience applying Systems Engineering to complex multidisciplinary products, ideally within UAVs, aerospace, robotics, autonomous or mission-critical systems. ​Experience across the full V-model engineering lifecycle, or a substantial proportion of it, from requirements definition through integration, verification and validation. Strong experience in requirements capture, decomposition, allocation and traceability. Experience developing system architectures and defining/managing subsystem interfaces. ​Good understanding of hardware/software integration, system integration and testing. ​Practical experience of Verification & Validation (V&V), including SIL/HIL and ideally flight-test activities. Experience with MBSE/SysML and requirements-management tools such as DOORS, Jama or Polarion. ​Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink and modelling/simulation environments. ​Understanding of system safety, FMEA/FMECA and technical risk management. Experience integrating AI/ML-enabled perception or autonomous functionality is desirable. Ability to support customer bids and proposals, including interpreting and responding to new customer requirements. Experience using AI-based engineering tools, such as LLMs and agent-based systems, to improve analysis, documentation or engineering productivity. ​Strong analytical, technical communication and problem-solving skills. Full driving licence. Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC) due to the nature of the work and projects involved. Attributes & Mindset ​Strong systems-thinking and ability to see the wider impact of engineering decisions. Comfortable working with multiple engineering disciplines in a small tight-knit team. Structured and analytical, but pragmatic in a fast-moving R&D environment. Proactive and hands-on, particularly during integration and testing. Able to challenge assumptions and drive technical issues to resolution. Strong communicator capable of working effectively with engineers, suppliers, leadership and customers ​Adaptable & Resilient: Stay calm and focused under pressure, maintaining a positive attitude that motivates others, adapting approach as challenges arise. Comfortable working with multiple engineering disciplines in a small tight-knit team. We believe in the value of working together in person and expect team members to be office-based for the majority of the working week. At the same time, we take a flexible pragmatic approach to working patterns, including start and finish times and remote working, to support a healthy work-life balance while meeting the needs of the team and project. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team where everyone is treated with respect and has the opportunity to contribute and succeed. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are focused on creating a working environment where different perspectives, experiences and ideas are valued.