At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of complex aerospace systems while collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines.
- Company: High-growth aerospace and defence engineering organisation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of autonomous systems and make a real impact in aerospace engineering.
- Qualifications: Strong background in systems architecture and experience with safety-critical products.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Location: Bristol (hybrid - typically 3 days onsite)
Type: Permanent
Overview
A high-growth autonomous systems and aerospace/defence engineering organisation is expanding its Systems Engineering capability in the UK and is hiring a Systems Architect to support fast-moving demonstrator and programme work. This is a senior, hands‑on architecture role operating close to leadership, helping shape how complex UAS / aircraft-level systems are defined, decomposed, verified, and certified.
You’ll sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines-acting as the technical "glue" between engineering teams-and play a key role in translating mission needs into robust, testable system behaviour, requirements, and assurance strategy.
Key Responsibilities
- Own system-level architecture from early concept and product definition through to delivery on programme milestones.
- Lead cross‑functional collaboration across disciplines (e.g., avionics, mission systems, payloads, software, safety, security, structures, propulsion), ensuring coherent end‑to‑end design decisions.
- Develop and manage requirements (capture, decomposition, traceability, verification planning), including clear rationale and interfaces.
- Drive MBSE practices and system modelling approaches; contribute to selection/use of modelling and requirements toolsets (and associated ways of working).
- Define system behaviour, operational concepts, and verification strategies; support test planning and evidence generation.
- Contribute to hazard‑led engineering, including hazard logs and assurance artefacts across the lifecycle.
- Engage with senior stakeholders to help shape engineering direction, standards adoption, and delivery governance.
Required Experience / Skills
- Strong background in systems architecture for complex, safety‑/mission-critical products (aerospace, defence, autonomy, robotics, or similarly regulated environments).
- Practical experience with MBSE and requirements/architecture tooling (e.g., requirements management + modelling + PLM ecosystem).
- Working knowledge of safety/assurance frameworks and lifecycle evidence expectations, including experience aligned to standards such as: ARP4751 / ARP4761 (or closely related aerospace systems assurance frameworks).
- Relevant military standards and regulated development constraints.
- Confidence shaping requirements and verification strategies across multiple subsystems and stakeholders.
- Comfortable operating at principal level: making decisions with incomplete information, moving quickly, and influencing across teams.
Nice to Have
- Exposure to certification campaigns / regulated delivery programmes (civil or defence), and the reality of turning engineering work into "audit‑ready" evidence.
Call to Action
If you meet the criteria, we encourage you to submit your up-to-date CV for consideration. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing how your expertise can make a significant impact with our Client.
Systems Architect in Bristol employer: IO Associates
Join a leading engineering organisation that values innovation and excellence, offering a dynamic work culture where your contributions directly impact high-performance solutions in safety-critical environments. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to mentor fellow engineers and shape technical direction while working in an Agile/SAFe environment. Located in the UK, this role provides a unique chance to be part of cutting-edge projects in defence, aerospace, and industrial technology, ensuring a rewarding and meaningful career path.
