Head of Discipline - Systems Engineering in London

Head of Discipline - Systems Engineering in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Systems Engineering discipline and ensure effective project execution.
  • Company: Join SEA, a leader in advanced defence solutions for a safer world.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and excellent career development opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in protecting what matters while leading innovative engineering teams.
  • Qualifications: STEM degree and leadership experience in engineering within defence or aerospace.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Engineered to Protect, that's our promise, we protect what matters - our nations, our waters, our land, our cities, our people, our environment, our world.

Functional leadership of the Systems Engineering discipline, ensuring SEA has the people, methods, tools and governance needed to deliver coherent system architectures, robust requirements, effective technical assurance, and disciplined lifecycle execution across products and projects. This role allows for flexible working. The salary for this role is up to £90k, depending on experience.

What you'll be doing:

  • Own requirements management practice and traceability
  • Define and maintain system architecture approaches
  • Ensure integration, verification and validation planning is robust
  • Support technical risk reduction and trade-off decisions
  • Ensure alignment with ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 and relevant defence lifecycle expectations
  • Provide assurance at key lifecycle gates and technical reviews
  • Own Systems Engineering standards, processes, methods, and tools
  • Ensure engineers are suitably trained, competent, and deployed
  • Provide technically capable resources to projects and products
  • Maintain discipline compliance with AS9100, ISO 15288 and relevant defence lifecycle requirements
  • Drive continuous improvement within the discipline
  • Participate in technical reviews, audits, and governance as required
  • Support Engineering Leads with subject matter leadership and challenge

At SEA, we develop and deliver advanced solutions to make our world safer, cleaner and more efficient. We provide state-of-the-art applications for naval ship and fleet protection, and undersea surveillance systems. In-service across the globe, our systems deliver a rapid response to threats and system effectiveness and interoperation.

What we offer:

  • Work life balance
  • Hybrid/flexible working arrangements
  • 25 days annual leave, plus buy and sell
  • Up to 16 days flexi leave accrual
  • Half day Fridays
  • Reservists in the Armed Forces receive special paid leave
  • Family & wellbeing Private medical health insurance & Employee Assistance Program
  • Health Cash Plan
  • All Staff Bonus
  • Group Pension Plan of up to 8% employer contribution
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Wellbeing Centre
  • Sports & Social activities
  • Employee Discounts portal - online and in-store discounts, travel savings
  • Life assurance policy
  • Publication and recruitment bonus rewards
  • Development opportunities, including LinkedIn learning
  • Facilities & resources Electric vehicle charging points at all sites
  • Private seated lunch areas
  • Onsite bistro (Barnstaple office) and free hot and cold beverages
  • Onsite showers and toiletries provision
  • Free onsite parking

The skills you need:

  • A STEM degree and/or equivalent relevant engineering professional qualifications
  • Engineering leadership experience within a business operating within the UK defence/security/Automotive/Aerospace industry
  • Direct experience of leading a varied engineering function of at least 25 engineers
  • Lifecycle delivery of complex systems
  • Requirements management tools and methods, e.g. DOORS NG or equivalent
  • System architecture and interface management
  • Integration, verification, validation and acceptance
  • Engineering governance in regulated/safety-conscious environments
  • Deep technical expertise and professional credibility
  • Strong people leadership and coaching capability
  • Objective, consistent, and fair decision maker
  • Comfortable balancing functional priorities with project needs

Join us and be part of something smaller - with 500 people in the UK and Canada - doing something bigger: protecting what matters.

Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited

Contact Details:

Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Discipline - Systems Engineering in London

Get Involved in Control Systems Communities

Dive into control systems forums and relevant LinkedIn groups to showcase your expertise. Engage in discussions, answer questions, and share your knowledge—this can help us get noticed by potential employers looking for someone just like you!

Attend Industry Conferences and Workshops

Join conferences or workshops specifically tailored to control systems engineering, like the IEEE conference. These events are goldmines for networking with industry leaders and might just lead us to that perfect role at Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited.

Get Practical Experience Through Projects

Start or contribute to projects that highlight your control systems skills. Whether it’s a simulated environment or real-world application, having tangible results will give us a huge edge when chatting with Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited.

Choose Job Boards Wisely

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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Discipline - Systems Engineering in London

Requirements Management
System Architecture
Integration, Verification, and Validation
Engineering Governance
Technical Risk Reduction
ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288
AS9100 Compliance

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Technical Skills:When applying for the Head of Discipline - Systems Engineering role, make sure to showcase your technical expertise in control systems. Be specific about the software and programming languages you’ve worked with—mention anything from MATLAB to PLC programming. This will help us see your proficiency in the tools that are essential for the job.

Quantify Your Achievements:In the engineering world, numbers speak volumes! Use your CV to quantify your achievements—whether it’s a percentage improvement in system efficiency or successful project completions under budget. This will not only make your application stand out but also showcase your problem-solving capabilities to us.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t hesitate to get personal in your cover letter! Talk about why you’re passionate about control systems engineering and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this role at Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited. We want to see your genuine interest and motivation to contribute to our projects.

Professional Documentation:For a full-time role, ensure that your application documents are professional and well-structured. Include a clear CV format and cover letter that highlights key projects or systems you've worked on. Don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or training that would make you a valuable addition to us at Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited.

How to prepare for a job interview at Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited

Brush Up on Control Systems Concepts

Make sure we're up to speed with control systems theory—think stability analysis, PID tuning, and state-space representation. Revising these fundamentals will help us answer technical questions more confidently and demonstrate our expertise during the interview.

Familiarise Yourself with Simulation Tools

Get hands-on with popular simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink or LabVIEW. A lot of interviews might include technical assessments or practical tasks to gauge our understanding of system modelling and control design using these tools, so being proficient could really set us apart.

Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios

We should expect scenario-based questions where we'll have to solve real-world control system challenges. Practising how to approach problems logically and articulately will help us show our analytical thinking to the interviewer at Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited.

Show Your Passion for Engineering

As this role is full-time, it's crucial we convey our genuine enthusiasm for control systems engineering. Sharing personal projects or experiences where we tackled interesting engineering tasks can illustrate our commitment and eagerness to contribute to the team at Systems Engineering and Assessment Limited.