Principal Systems Engineer

Job summary

Are you a systems engineering professional who thrives on solving complex technical challenges and turning ambitious concepts into operational capabilities?

We are looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to join our team and help transform cutting-edge Defence and Security research into innovative, real-world capabilities. Working at the forefront of cyber and technology development, you will play a key role in shaping complex systems, influencing technical strategy and ensuring solutions meet operational needs.

As a senior technical leader, you will work with stakeholders across government, industry, academia and international partners to develop enterprise architectures, define system requirements and provide expert systems engineering guidance throughout the capability lifecycle. You'll lead the resolution of complex technical issues, drive interoperability across systems and ensure solutions remain robust, flexible and sustainable for future needs.

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decisions, mentor developing engineers and contribute to some of the UK's most important defence and national security challenges. You will work in multidisciplinary teams, helping to bridge the gap between research, engineering and operational delivery while ensuring programmes are delivered safely, securely and effectively.

If you enjoy tackling complex problems, providing technical leadership and developing innovative solutions that have real impact, we would love to hear from you.

This role is eligible for an additional specialist allowance of £2758 annually subject to meeting extended onboarding requirements. The role may be eligible for additional skills allowances depending on the skills and experience of the applicant.

Job description

What you'll do

• Translate complex stakeholder requirements into clear system requirements and enterprise architectures.
• Lead systems engineering activities across complex programmes and capability development projects.
• Provide technical leadership and expert advice to multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Develop and mature system and system-of-systems architectures to support strategic objectives.
• Define standards, interfaces and open systems approaches that improve interoperability and future flexibility.
• Analyse complex technical information and communicate findings, recommendations and risks clearly to a range of audiences.
• Identify, assess and mitigate technical risks to ensure successful project delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Support capability development activities across the CADMID lifecycle.
• Ensure technical products are delivered to the required quality, safety and security standards.
• Mentor and develop engineers and technical specialists, sharing knowledge and promoting engineering excellence.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with customers, government partners, industry and academia.
• Drive continuous improvement in systems engineering practices, tools and methodologies.

For more information on the job responsibilities, please see the job profile attached below.

Person specification

What we're looking for

Qualifications

• Degree in Systems Engineering, Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or another relevant STEM discipline, or equivalent professional experience. https://dstlgovuk-my.sharepoint.com/personal/glmatthewman_dstl_gov_uk/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B1171A27E-5CE9-4C7B-AAED-C10F5F6DB910%7D&file=20260925-Principal_Systems_Engineer_Role_Profile_L6_V1.0-O.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Candidates should demonstrate experience in at least two of the following:

• Providing technical leadership across complex systems engineering projects.
• Developing and maturing system-of-systems architectures.
• Applying Systems Engineering and Systems Thinking principles within complex technical environments.
• Applying systems engineering approaches to the development and assurance of defence or cyber capabilities.
• Understanding how software engineering contributes to integrated systems, including hardware and embedded systems.

Experience

• Experience solving complex, non-routine technical problems and producing clear technical assessments.
• Experience applying Systems Engineering principles across the capability lifecycle.
• Knowledge of capability development, acquisition or procurement environments.
• Experience providing technical leadership within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience assuring technical products and supporting delivery of high-quality engineering outcomes.

Please review the attached job description for more detailed information

Important Information:

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.

For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require Develop Vetting and you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Qualifications

Relevant STEM-based degree such as Electronic Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, Physics or Mathematics. Individual with equivalent skills qualifications or experience are also actively encouraged to apply.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,568, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £14,939 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12