Principal Systems Engineer in Thatcham

Principal Systems Engineer – Defence. Requires SC Clearance to start and DV eligibility. Location – Berkshire 5 days per week. Salary – Competitive DoE.

We\’re supporting a leading organisation operating at the forefront of defence and secure systems engineering, looking to appoint an experienced Principal Systems Engineer to take a key leadership role across complex, high-impact programmes.

This is an opportunity to work on mission‑critical systems in a security‑sensitive environment, providing technical leadership across the full systems lifecycle while guiding multidisciplinary engineering teams.

The Role

• Lead the development, integration and delivery of complex systems across the full lifecycle
• Provide technical oversight and assurance, ensuring solutions meet stakeholder, safety and security requirements
• Manage and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Own and review requirements, architecture and technical documentation
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry and engineering standards

Essential Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in systems engineering across the full lifecycle
• Strong working knowledge of requirements management and modelling tools (e.g. DOORS, UML, SysML, Enterprise Architect)
• Proven ability to produce and review high‑quality technical documentation
• Demonstrable leadership and team management experience
• Familiarity with industry standards such as ISO 15288, IEEE and IEC

Desirable

• INCOSE certification (ASEP / CSEP)
• Background in defence, aerospace or other safety‑ or security‑critical sectors
• Knowledge of security frameworks and standards, including NCSC requirements

Education & Background

• Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or a related discipline
• Significant industry experience delivering complex systems, ideally within secure environments

Additional Requirements

• Eligibility for DV security clearance
• Willingness to travel within the UK
• Full UK driving licence

#J-18808-Ljbffr