At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a talented electronics design team and manage innovative projects.
- Company: Join BAE Systems, a leader in cutting-edge technology and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension scheme, health benefits, and flexible lifestyle perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in safety-critical technology and advance your career.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in engineering and experience with cost and planning management.
- Other info: Diverse team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Rochester
Salary: Circa £60,000 per annum
What you’ll be doing:
- Managerial and technical leadership of an electronics design team
- Work package management; cost, schedule, risk and opportunities
- Ensuring the engineering team is supporting the production program demand
- Providing technical governance and ensuring adherence to company processes
- Leading cost and performance trade-offs
- Control Account Management (CAM)
Your skills and experiences:
Essential:
- Able to demonstrate high performance and achievement in leadership and management of engineering teams through a full product development lifecycle
- Proven experience / knowledge of cost and planning management tools/optimising solutions and minimising impacts from dependencies/ product design and work package control
- Experience of design and identifying improvements to working practices and team skill development, alongside root cause and target areas of improvement, focusing on failure reduction and MDBF
- Knowledge of supporting a production program
Desirable:
- Experience of PLD / FPGA design
- Requirements management tools, such as DOORS
- Work-package management tools, such as MSP, JIRA
Benefits:
As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.
The Hardware team:
As a Hardware Team Leader, you will lead a team of highly skilled and experienced hardware engineers responsible for the support to our production programs within products such as Helmet Mounted & Head-Up Displays, Mission Computers, Flight Controls, Active Inceptors and other associated safety critical technology. This role will provide you with the opportunity to work with innovating projects as a member of a very experienced diverse team, with the view to progressing your career in this industry.
Why BAE Systems?
This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 3 February 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Hardware Team Leader in Chatham employer: BAE Systems
Contact Detail:
BAE Systems Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Hardware Team Leader in Chatham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Familiarise yourself with their products and values, especially those related to hardware engineering. We want you to show them that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about what they do.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your leadership experience and how you’ve managed engineering teams. We believe that the more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Hardware Team Leader in Chatham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership and management achievements, especially in engineering teams, to show us you’re the right fit for the Hardware Team Leader role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about this position and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention any relevant experience with cost and planning management tools!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: We want to see your technical prowess! If you have experience with PLD/FPGA design or requirements management tools like DOORS, make sure to include that in your application. It’ll help us understand how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website: To ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at BAE Systems
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around electronics design and production support. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led and how you managed costs and schedules. This will show that you can handle the responsibilities of a Hardware Team Leader.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in managing engineering teams through the full product development lifecycle. Talk about how you've optimised solutions and minimised impacts from dependencies. This is crucial for demonstrating your capability to lead effectively.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tools
Get comfortable with work package management tools like MSP and JIRA, as well as requirements management tools such as DOORS. Being able to discuss how you've used these tools in past roles will give you an edge and show you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Be prepared to talk about how you've identified improvements in working practices and team skill development. Discuss any root cause analysis you've conducted and how it led to failure reduction. This aligns perfectly with the company's focus on innovation and quality.