Expert Services – Systems Engineer in Manchester

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what’s next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Are you ready to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation at the forefront of defence innovation? At DE&S, every day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a real difference.

As an Expert Services - Systems Engineer (ES-SE), you will play a pivotal role in delivering the future of Systems and Mission Systems Engineering. Collaborating with colleagues and clients, you will scope and deliver critical activities while responding to emerging challenges across a range of technical and environmental areas, including Land, Maritime, Air, Weapons, and Space.

Working in Expert Services you will provide effective Engineering and Safety support and guidance to Safety critical tasks and activities by identifying issues early in the project life-cycle. Those issues are managed through engineering processes, creating strong controls and mitigations for technical risks. Through this you will be a part of balancing the Cost, Effectiveness and Safety of the equipment the National Armaments Director (NAD) delivers to the Armed Forces.

You will have the opportunity to work across the entire project life-cycle and be instrumental in helping pan-National Armaments Director Group clients solve complex problems in Defence. Some of the activities that you will lead on are the development, tailoring and alignment of systems engineering products, including innovative system and capability architecture, requirements at both User and Function level, integrated test and evaluation plans and Engineering planning, ensuring that these products meet your client’s needs and addresses the unique situation that each project faces.

You will drive some of the most complex and critical programmes forward, making a real difference to lives in the UK and abroad, and advancing state of the art systems engineering.

You will provide support to a wide range of technologies and environments by delivering critical tasks to some of the UK’s most high-profile and technologically advanced programmes. These include the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Future Complex Weapons, RFA Proteus, P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Protector Remote Piloted Air Systems, Autonomous Systems, Submarines, Guided Weapons, Challenger 3, Space and Land based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and MOD Prioritisation Strategy Analysis against Strategic Defence Review.

You will be based out of Manchester and will need to attend this site to support business needs (nominally 1 day per week). However, we endeavour to provide flexible and offer smarter working. These roles do have some travel expectations, including overnight stays, depending on the ES-SE Team or Client needs; however, this is typically limited to UK locations and comes with advance notice.

What you’ll be doing:

• Scope systems engineering tasks based upon the risk and complexity of the system and acquisition approach.
• Form accurate costed proposals for tasks, negotiate and gain approval for resource commitment and deliver high quality products to stringent levels of time, cost, and quality.
• Evaluate the problem space, collect and analyse data and deliver problem resolution.
• Support the implementation of recommendations to deliver the high value benefits predicted.
• Identify and analyse technical hazards / project impacts and contribute to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring these are adequately documented and managed.
• Provide expert advice and support to clients and other stakeholders, helping them to understand and correctly frame their requirement.
• Develop and select appropriate tools, processes or methods in unclear situations based on experience and expertise.
• Identify opportunities to implement best practice.
• Manage and participate in assurance, audit, and reviews activity.
• Provide technical leadership and expert guidance to clients and other stakeholders to enhance the capability and effectiveness of the deliverable.
• Ensure that the proposed solutions are properly understood and appropriately exploited.

Person specification:

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the essential criteria:

• Wide-ranging depth and breadth of experience providing technical advice and delivering successful Systems Engineering outcomes.
• Experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful Systems Engineering outcomes.
• As a minimum be professionally registered as either IEng (or equivalent) or have equivalent experience. It is expected that IEng (or equivalent) will be achieved within 12 months of joining permanently.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace
• Technical Competence 1: PMPC Stakeholder Management – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner

Offered benefits:

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%.
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications.
• Support for progression.
• Huge range of discounts.
• Volunteering days.
• Enhanced parental leave schemes.

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.