Principal Systems Engineer in Horsham

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement and support sustainable transformation.

As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will join our Horsham team to support our activities within the clean energy and hydrogen technologies sector. You will act as a recognised technical authority, leading the development and integration of advanced fuel cell and electrolysis systems. Working across multiple programmes, you will shape system architecture, influence technology strategy, and provide technical leadership to support the industrialisation of next-generation clean energy solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the technical authority for system architecture, performance, and integration across multiple fuel cell and electrolysis programmes.
• Lead the development, review, and approval of system architectures, ensuring alignment with technical and commercial objectives.
• Provide technical governance across projects, including design reviews, technical risk management, and system trade-off decisions.
• Lead the resolution of complex cross-functional system issues with significant business impact.
• Influence product roadmaps and technology strategies through system-level technical expertise.
• Develop and embed digital-first approaches to stack and system development.
• Lead verification and validation planning, execution, and interpretation activities.
• Support customer engagements, technical proposals, negotiations, and strategic partnerships.
• Drive the identification and mitigation of system-level technical risks.
• Mentor and coach engineers, supporting the development of future technical leaders.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, standards, and best practices.
• Support intellectual property development through the identification of patentable innovations and technical differentiation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, industrial partners, and academic collaborators.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in system design and integration of complex electrochemical energy systems.
• Deep understanding of thermo-fluids, electrochemistry, balance of plant systems, controls, and system dynamics.
• Proven ability to solve novel and highly complex system-level engineering challenges.
• Expertise in verification and validation methodologies, planning, and execution.
• Advanced knowledge of systems engineering principles, methods, and tools.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to senior leadership, customers, and external partners.
• Proven experience influencing technical decisions across multidisciplinary organisations.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
• Significant experience leading systems engineering activities within complex engineering programmes.
• Demonstrated expertise in system architecture, integration, and product development.
• Track record of providing technical leadership across multiple projects or business-critical initiatives.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and/or Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) technologies.
• Knowledge of hydrogen, energy generation, or renewable energy systems.
• Experience supporting technology industrialisation and commercial deployment.
• Understanding of system-level intellectual property strategy and patent development.
• Experience working with external partners, customers, and research organisations.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and tools.

Why join us?

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies. At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals. Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get:

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style.
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Cycle & Tech Scheme.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme.
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings.
• Flexible way of working (role dependent).

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance.