Lead System Engineer in Kent, Rochester

We currently have a vacancy to join one of the world’s leading, global defence, security and aerospace companies as a Lead Systems Engineer (Team Lead). The role will be based in Rochester, Kent and will require the successful candidate to be on site full time. Flexible working hours are available with a 1pm finish on Fridays.

The company works at the cutting edge of technology, creating more than 100 new inventions every year for customers in over 100 countries. The Systems Engineering team supports the functional department and projects through work package scope, scheduling, resources and strategy for the project systems domain. Your role will include working with Engineering Project Managers to broadly understand the near-term work planned (3mth - 6mth) and longer term work planned (18mth – 24mth). You will be leading a team of highly capable engineers to deliver against your plans and estimates.

This role focuses on guiding and developing engineers by offering technical direction, supporting wellbeing, and helping shape their career growth. It involves collaborating across teams to identify effective technical solutions, contributing to strategic project decisions, and ensuring initiatives are implemented smoothly. A key part of the position is understanding project scope, timelines, and resource needs, while regularly advising managers on team capacity and skill requirements. The role also ensures dependencies and facilities are in place for successful delivery and supports the wider business by preparing bid estimates and maintaining schedules and budgets for ongoing projects.

Main Responsibilities:

• You will be providing guidance to less experienced engineers, supporting team members wellbeing and career development.
• Your understanding of scope, size and time phasing of packages of work, will be used to facilitate and contribute to project success.
• You will be understanding the team size and skillset required, giving regular status and recommendations on resourcing requirements to the project and functional engineering manager.
• You will be supporting the business by creating new estimates for bids and maintaining the schedule and budget for ongoing projects.

Benefits:

• Enhanced Pension scheme- up to 16% combined.
• Flexible working pattern including flexible start and finish times.
• 25 holiday days plus bank holidays- 26 days after 5 years’ service/ 27 days after 10 years’ service.
• Early finish on Fridays.
• Shared Incentive Plan.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Life Assurance (you and your spouse/ partner)- 6 x salary.
• Ill Health Income Protection/ Private Medical Insurance- 50% of salary.

About You:

• You will have experience in the systems engineering domain and product lifecycle.
• You will have familiarity with system engineering tools such as DOORS, Siemens Polarion, Enterprise Architect, CAMEO, MATLAB and/or Simulink.
• You will have experience leading a team and making decisions from either a technical or managerial aspect.
• You will have a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant Scientific/Engineering subject (e.g. Systems Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Aerospace, Physics or Mathematics).
• You must be eligible to apply for SC clearance and, therefore, must hold a British passport and have lived and worked in the UK for the past 5 years.