Systems Engineer

Overview

At Dstl, our vision is to have a modern way of working efficiently, accommodating and enabling our people to create, collaborate and deliver. To do this successfully in this job will require attendance at a Dstl location; Government Departments including wider MoD or Delivery and Mission Partner’s premises for 60% of your working time.

About the job

Job summary

Are you ready to shape the future of Defence and Security?

Join a pioneering team at the forefront of operationalising cutting-edge research into real-world capabilities across the Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) domain. We’re looking for a dynamic Systems Engineer who thrives on complexity, innovation, and impact.

We are looking for someone who can:

• Define and refine system-level requirements in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Tackle complex, non-routine challenges through the development of Logical and Physical Enterprise Architecture models.
• Ensure technical integrity and safety across projects, applying robust Systems Engineering principles and frameworks.
• Champion open systems approaches by identifying and selecting standards and interfaces across the CEMA domain.
• Produce and maintain high-level technical documentation to communicate the broader technological vision.
• Shape, prioritise, and drive your own workstreams with autonomy and urgency.
• Gather and synthesise information from diverse sources into coherent, actionable insights.

You will:

• Work on nationally significant projects with real-world impact.
• Collaborate with leading experts in cyber, electromagnetic, and systems engineering.
• Enjoy a culture of curiosity, autonomy, and continuous learning.
• Ready to engineer the future? Apply now and be part of a team that transforms research into reality.
• We take cutting edge Defence and Security research across the cyber domain and operationalise the research into novel and unique capabilities.

Dstl will give you the chance to work on unique capabilities, develop your technical knowledge and work with friendly colleagues to protect the UK through supporting current and future cyber operations.

Find out more within the candidate pack on Civil Service Jobs.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

In this role you will:

• Define system level requirements.
• Work with stakeholders to draw out high level requirements.
• Work on complex and non-routine problems, including the development of Logical and Physical Enterprise Architecture models.
• Oversee the technical and safety aspects of projects and standards of work, ensuring that the appropriate Systems Engineering principles, standards and frameworks are selected and followed.
• Identify, define and select standards and interfaces to enable an open systems approach across the full scope of the CEMA domain.
• Create and update high level technical documentation to ensure others can follow and understand the bigger technological picture.
• Shape and prioritise your own work and drive it forward at pace.
• Gather relevant information from a range of sources and people and contextualise it into a coherent picture.

Safety at Dstl

Accountable for ensuring safe and secure work;

• Must appreciate and be responsible for the health and safety of self and others; both understand and meet defined accountabilities as written in Dstl policy;
• Must demonstrate the expected HS (& EP) behaviours as defined by the Civil Service and Dstl and lead by example;
• Must ensure understanding and maintenance of appropriate training, experience and knowledge (i.e. competent / SQEP) for self and direct reports;
• Develop a working environment that is supportive of and champions the Dstl approach to security, health, wellbeing, safety and environmental (HSEP) management;
• Be aware of the downstream impact of their actions and the actions of their direct reports on those outside of their immediate control.
• Implement Dstl\’s policies and ensure compliance with the Management System

Person specification

Qualifications

• Relevant STEM-based degree, or those with equivalent skills qualifications or experience

Technical Skills

Essential

• Experience of using and applying Systems Engineering and/or Systems Thinking methodologies.
• An awareness of Software engineering and its application within in the context of hardware, embedded systems and as part of the whole system implementation.

Experience

To be considered for this role we expect you to have:

Essential

• Worked on complex and non-routine problems, drawing together disparate information and making meaningful technical assessments, ideally in an engineering or technology environment.
• A persistence and tenacity to cohere people and information that assures technical products to a high level.
• Experience of using and applying Systems Engineering and/or Systems Thinking methodologies.

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

If you are a current Dstl employee you must ensure your line manager is aware of your application and the potential situation regarding release dates, if successful and a start date is not agreed it could result in the job offer being withdrawn

Qualifications

STEM-based degree, or those with equivalent skills qualifications or experience

Behaviours

We\\\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,769, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £10,941 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 28.97% employer contribution. In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme. Option to join Vivup Benefits Payment scheme
• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours.
• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.