Principal Systems Engineer in Cheadle

As a Principal Systems Engineer at JCB Compact Products, you will lead the definition, architecture and integration of complex control systems across our off‑highway machinery portfolio. You’ll play a central role in shaping system behaviour, developing robust architectures and ensuring end‑to‑end requirements traceability from concept through to production. This is a senior technical leadership position, influencing product strategy, guiding multidisciplinary teams and driving best‑practice systems engineering across electrical, mechanical, software and hydraulic domains. Your expertise in model‑based development and systems integration will be critical in delivering advanced, reliable and operator‑focused machine functionality.

What does this role involve day to day?

• Leading full‑machine systems architecture definition across electronic, hydraulic, mechanical and operator‑interaction domains.
• Performing functional decomposition and allocating behaviours across ECUs, sensors, actuators and subsystems.
• Driving early‑stage concept modelling and architecture development using MBSE methodologies.
• Owning requirements flow‑down and traceability using tools such as JAMA, ensuring alignment from stakeholder need through to verified system function.
• Defining system‑level requirements, interface specifications and operational scenarios.
• Developing system‑level behavioural models in MATLAB/Simulink or SysML‑based tools to support concept evaluation, control strategy definition and system validation.
• Guiding model‑based control software development to ensure alignment with system intent.
• Defining system integration strategies including SIL, HIL, bench testing and machine‑level validation.
• Leading system‑level issue diagnosis using CAN tools such as CANalyzer or similar logging systems.
• Ensuring alignment between virtual simulation and physical machine behaviour across development phases.
• Developing system safety concepts and functional safety architectures in accordance with standards such as ISO 13849, ISO 19014, ISO 25119 or ISO 26262.
• Supporting hazard analyses, DFMEAs, risk assessments and safety case documentation.
• Providing technical leadership across electrical, software, hydraulics and mechanical engineering teams.
• Leading design reviews, driving cross‑functional decision‑making and promoting best‑practice systems engineering and MBSE adoption.
• Coaching and mentoring engineers in requirements engineering, modelling and systematic problem‑solving.

This will be suited to you if…

• You have extensive experience in systems engineering within off‑highway, automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, robotics or similar mechatronic environments.
• You’re highly skilled in model‑based development using MATLAB/Simulink or SysML for system architecture and behavioural modelling.
• You have hands‑on experience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA) and issue‑tracking platforms such as JIRA.
• You’re proficient with CAN‑based diagnostic tools (CANalyzer, CANoe) and vehicle logging workflows.
• You understand distributed control systems, ECU architectures, sensor and actuator integration, powertrain systems and safety‑related features.
• You bring strong domain knowledge of off‑highway machinery such as hydraulics, propulsion, driveline and work‑function systems.
• You’re familiar with environmental and reliability considerations, including EMC, vibration, contamination and thermal challenges.
• You have a proven ability to lead technical direction, influence system decisions and align cross‑functional teams.
• You possess excellent communication skills and a structured, systems‑thinking mindset.
• You’re experienced in mentoring engineers and raising organisational capability in systems engineering practices.
• You hold (or are working toward) a degree in Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or Control Engineering.
• Experience with MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo, Enterprise Architect), hydraulics, embedded C/C++, or electrified powertrains is advantageous.

What happens next? Ordinarily, our Resourcing Team reviews and shortlists CVs. If shortlisted, you’ll speak to one of our Recruiters to discuss the role further. Our interview process usually consists of an initial team’s interview followed by an in‑person interview. We’ll keep in touch throughout the process but if you have any questions, please get in touch at recruitment@jcb.com.

What’s in it for you? This is your chance to join a company that values expertise not only in rewards but also in real employee care. At JCB you don’t just get a competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday and access to our company pension—you can also use our onsite gym, in‑house doctor and dentist. We have an ULEV car scheme available for our employees too. Then there’s the JCB Rewards Hub, which gives you discounts with high street retailers. Feel like biking to work? There’s our Cycle to Work Scheme. We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our Recruitment Team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format. If you would benefit from this support, please email recruitment@jcb.com, and a member of the team will be in touch.

Recruitment Agencies: JCB does not accept any speculative approaches to present candidates for advertised vacancies.