Systems Architect - mission planning and control

Lead Systems Architect

Working Pattern: Hybrid, with 3-5 days per week on-site due to project requirements

Security Clearance: Applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain relevant UK security clearances. Nationality and right-to-work restrictions may apply.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening and security vetting as part of the recruitment process.

Benefits

• Annual bonus of up to 21% of base salary
• Pension contributions up to 14% combined employer/employee contribution
• Flexible working arrangements considered
• Enhanced family leave policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
• Excellent on-site facilities, including subsidised meals and free parking
• Healthcare cash plan providing support towards everyday healthcare expenses

The Opportunity

Join a highly capable systems engineering team responsible for delivering mission-critical command, control and planning solutions within a complex defence environment. This role offers the opportunity to work on advanced capability development programmes supporting UK and international customers.

As the Lead Architect, you will be responsible for producing and maintaining architectural artefacts across a portfolio of products and capabilities. You will provide technical leadership to other architects within the team, driving consistency, modularity and reuse across multiple solutions while influencing key design decisions.

Working closely with engineering, delivery and leadership teams, you will help ensure technical solutions are delivered to quality, cost and schedule objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and maintenance of system architecture models and artefacts.
• Provide architectural guidance and governance across multiple projects and products.
• Drive modular and reusable design approaches.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to define and deliver technical solutions.
• Support technical decision-making and architectural reviews.
• Lead and coordinate architectural activities across small to medium-sized teams.

Skills & Experience

• Strong background in complex systems architecture.
• Proven experience applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) principles in a relevant environment.
• Understanding of product-line or platform-based architectural approaches would be advantageous.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to influence and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing and coordinating technical work packages.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand complex technical challenges quickly.

Technical Skills

Essential

• IBM Rhapsody
• SysML
• IBM Engineering Workflow Management (formerly Rational Team Concert)

Desirable

• DOORS Next Generation