Job Purpose:
The Principal Systems Engineer is the technical authority for the design and delivery of electrical and electronic systems within complex defence programmes. The role provides technical leadership across the full engineering lifecycle, from concept development and electrical design through verification, qualification, manufacture and customer acceptance ensuring compliance with customer requirements, engineering governance, safety, quality and applicable defence standards.
Specific Job Responsibilities:
• To have overall responsibility for the efficient, effective & safe management of allocated design programmes within the company’s Defence Systems products, to include Management of Technical compliance of designs and projects with customer and Rivencore Global Solutions requirements.
• Lead the technical delivery of multiple engineering programmes, managing scope, schedule, cost, technical risk, engineering resources and stakeholder expectations throughout the product lifecycle.
• Design Leadership: Provide vision, guidance, and mentorship to the design team. Set high standards for design quality, advocate for user-centred design practices, and foster a culture of creativity and collaboration.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams (customers, suppliers, production, quality, project management and certification authorities) to understand business goals, user needs, and technical constraints. Communicate design ideas effectively and manage expectations.
• Creative Design Direction: Define and drive the overall creative design direction for projects, establishing clear design principles. Ensure consistency across branding, aesthetics, user experience and all creative deliverables, while guiding design decisions to achieve the intended project and business objectives.
• Documentation & Communication: Document customer project requirements, design specifications, and workflows. Communicate progress, risks, and feedback to relevant stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay up to date with industry trends, tools, and best practices. Identify opportunities for process improvements to enhance team productivity and project outcomes.
• Responsible for preparing detailed cost estimates for engineering projects, while collaborating with project managers and design teams to ensure budget adherence and timely project execution.
Qualification & Experience
Essential
- Degree in Electrical or Systems Engineering.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards.
- Extensive experience in electrical and electronic system design, including the production, review, and approval of electrical design documentation.
- Experience in using electrical CAD tools, such as Zuken E3, EPLAN or equivalent.
-
Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
-
Experience delivering defence or highly regulated engineering projects.
-
Experience with engineering lifecycle management.
-
Experience managing technical risk.
-
Experience with design verification and validation.
-
Strong stakeholder management skills.
Desirable, Knowledge of:
-
DEF STAN
-
MIL-STD
-
EMC
-
Environmental Qualification
-
Configuration Management
-
Windchill
-
Zuken E3, EPLAN or other Electrical CAD systems
- Requirements Management
Before You Apply
Please consider the following questions before submitting your application:
-
Do you hold a degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline?
-
Are you a Chartered Engineer (CEng), or actively working towards professional registration or would like to?
-
Do you have experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex engineering programmes?
-
Have you delivered engineering projects within the defence, aerospace, marine, nuclear or other highly regulated industries?
-
Do you have experience managing the complete engineering lifecycle, from concept and design through verification, qualification and customer acceptance?
-
Are you confident managing technical risk, engineering governance and design reviews?
-
Do you have experience producing or approving electrical design documentation, including schematics, interface definitions, technical specifications and verification evidence?
-
Have you worked with defence or industry standards such as DEF STAN, MIL-STD, EMC or environmental qualification requirements?
-
Do you have experience using engineering tools such as Windchill, Creo or requirements management software?
-
Are you eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate UK Security Clearance required for defence projects?