Lead System Engineer in Bristol

A fulfilling technical leadership role in an exciting domain of weapon system capability!

Salary: Circa £65,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 4 - 5 days per week on-site due to workload classification

Security Clearance: British Citizen. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

• Company Bonus: Bonus of up to 21% of base salary
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave - enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.

The opportunity:

This is a rare opportunity to join the Air Dominance Group within the Network Communications Department as the Lead Systems Engineer investigating Network Enabled Weapons (NEW) and Battlespace Integration concepts. As a technical leader, you will further develop these Air Dominance capabilities and knowledge in MBDA, apply them on current Air Dominance projects (Future Air Superiority Effector (FASE) and Future Combat Air System (FCAS)), and ensure they are sustained for application to future projects. Working with the Head of the Air Dominance Group in the Network Communications Department, you will ensure that the network implementation on our products is fit for purpose and will operate coherently when integrated into the military platforms and networks.

The responsibilities of the Lead Systems Engineer, Air Dominance Group:

• Investigate and manage the strategy for injecting network communication technologies and initiatives from within/outside MBDA into the programmes under the remit of the Air Dominance Group in the Network Communications Department. This activity must ensure cohesive specifications and design options are considered that can fulfil the communication functions required at Sub-system, System, and System-of-System levels across current / future effectors and platforms.
• Drive forward and provide knowledge on effector, platform, and wider battlespace network technical challenges and behaviours which will impact Air Dominance programmes across MBDA and industry.
• Investigate multi-domain integration and the ability to network assets across the battlespace, with a curiosity for concepting and deriving characteristics and requirements of these future environments.
• Be involved with multiple technical engineering and future business areas in MBDA to set roadmaps and drive engagements with the Network Communication Air Dominance projects, and vice versa. This activity must ensure that the exploitation opportunities within the FCAS and FASE network communications projects are captured and acted on swiftly in order to deliver game-changing capability, and to maintain the Department’s presence as experts in this field.
• Develop a respected position within Customer communities, including MoD and industry partners, during high-profile forums where MBDA are a key implementer/advisor on weapon systems with networked capability.
• Build a wider technical capability in the Network Communications Department, including interoperability management, through the development of less experienced engineers and by conducting knowledge management activities back into the Department.

What we're looking for from you:

• Commitment: To further develop a sustainable capability in NEW Communications and technology pipeline into Air Dominance – meaning the development of technical knowledge and application of system understanding to ensure our products are successful and utilise our networking technology and initiatives on offer.
• Passion: You must have a high level of passion for engineering and communication technologies. You must have a passion for project delivery, personal development & learning.
• Team Spirit: You must have the ability to inspire people in your team and in other projects, as well as external stakeholders, to the positive benefit of the project. You must have the energy and resilience to drive forward good ideas to completion and positively influence others.
• Integrity: You will be seen as one of the key technical leaders in NEW Communications and will be considered a role model for others. You will need to gain the trust and confidence of everyone involved in the project.
• Innovation: You will need to respond positively to the need for continuous improvement and find better, more efficient ways to deliver your inputs to MBDA products.

What’s in it for you?

• You will have a pivotal technical involvement in an exciting project at a crucial phase in the product lifecycle. Networked Weapons are a game-changing capability and you could be part of their development across FASE and FCAS.
• You will gain a technical understanding of Weapon System Communications, including Tactical Data Links (TDL), future evolutions of TDLs, radio frequency technologies and products.
• You will be part of a high performing team and functional department with your personal and professional development at the centre of its mission.
• You will provide technical leadership inside MBDA, for our immediate stakeholders and for the wider Air Dominance communications community.
• The role could develop into a Technical Expert role, depending upon the quality and motivations of the successful candidate.
• You will develop strong relationships with all internal and external key stakeholders.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given. MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more… We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.