Systems Engineer in Cambridge

We Go Beyond for A Safer World

Background: Tait Communications is a global leader in designing and delivering critical communications solutions which are the right fit for a variety of industries including public safety agencies, government services, utilities, extractive industries, and urban transport providers. Across the world, users of Tait products and services are better able to protect themselves and the public, be more responsive, and more productive.

While several corporate functions are based in Christchurch, New Zealand, the company prides itself on its international customer base and global support network. The company works with a network of sales offices, dealers, system integrators, and consultants that spans the globe. Customers around the world turn to Tait for developing products, migrating systems, customising features, configuring networks, training users, engineering support, and installation services. Customers commit to Tait because its people have a proven track record of taking the time to listen, understand, and act upon customer requirements.

Scope of Role: Systems Engineers support the business by applying their technical knowledge, analytical capability, interpersonal skills, and business acumen to engagements at any stage of the customer solution lifecycle – developing sales proposals, designing systems and solutions, supporting system implementation, and providing professional consulting services. The TELSE Sales & System Engineering group within Services provides subject-matter expertise, backup technical capacity, and a conduit into the Christchurch-based Tait organisation for customer-facing teams in regional offices. It is expected that the Systems Engineer role will engage in a mix of ad-hoc sales support activity and assigned customer project work for regional teams. From time to time the role will work directly with customers. It is critical that the customer perceives Tait to be a responsive, innovative, competent, and professional organisation. How the Systems Engineer behaves and communicates with colleagues and customers will drive a large part of that perception.

The Systems Engineering role requires a broad understanding of communication systems and the ability to work across multiple technical disciplines. In addition, excellent written and spoken communications skills, and a positive attitude to doing what is required to achieve an excellent outcome for internal and external customers are a must. The role, although based in the UK, will provide sales support to the entire TEMA region so frequent travel will be required including driving overseas.

Functional Outcomes:

• Assist Regions to Sell Products and Solutions
• Responds to enquiries in a professional manner, within agreed timeframes.
• Evaluates requirements and provides input to the bid review process.
• Provides technical response to tenders and requirements, including designs and detailed clause by clause response.
• Applies systematic methods to analyse requirements and specify solutions, using planners and tools where available.
• Provides quotes and proposals, in collaboration with relevant subject-matter experts and responsible delivery parties.
• Provides well-documented and consistent solutions that will meet customer needs.
• Acts as the technical lead for responses or parts of larger responses when required.
• Provides input and support for commercial decisions, budgeting etc.
• Assists the Commercial Manager to ensure contract wording is consistent with the technical solution and the division of technical responsibility.
• Project Engineering
• Interact with customers and staff in a positive and professional manner, considering our values of commitment to listen, courage to act, and integrity to deliver what we promise.
• Clarify/elaborate and validate customer requirements, including contribution to preparation of Requirements Specification documents.
• Specify and evaluate designs, scope/estimate work, and own delivery of assigned work across one or more of the following:
• Radio networks and network architecture
• Traffic analysis and capacity design
• RF systems, including frequency planning, coverage, site RF engineering
• System availability and reliability
• Wireless, fixed linking, and backhaul networks, including IPIT systems and system security
• Power and grounding systems
• Integration, selection, and qualification of OEM components
• Radio terminals and user equipment
• Design, planning, execution, and supervision of testing
• Deliver designs, plans, reports etc. to the required standards.
• Produce documentation and specifications for customers and internal use.
• Maintain documentation, so that it remains current and can be contributed to or referenced by others.
• Contribute to review of technical documentation, customer manuals and training, as required.
• Undertake any other related project work as may be agreed from time to time, including assisting or leading others.
• Implements Solutions
• Liaise with specialists to solve problems.
• Produce sketches of solutions, illustrating how components are to be installed.
• Source third party products to provide systems solutions and to evaluate the products.
• Document requirements and derive strategies for managing third party products and suppliers.
• Liaise with Development and Product Managers for upgrades (with both hardware and software) to meet requirements.
• Manages own personal development
• Keep abreast of changes in technology.
• Undertake and attend both internal and external courses to keep up-skilled in both technology and sales software tools.
• Work with other Systems Engineers across the group to learn new technology subjects and help grow confidence and commercial acumen.

Team Member Responsibilities:

• In consultation with your Manager you will:
• Ensure you understand your roles and responsibilities.
• Establish clear goals and outcomes, ensuring these are aligned to team or project needs.
• Take ownership for delivering assigned elements.
• Monitor and report progress, taking appropriate action to address exceptions.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to: Engineering Manager (Services)
• Reports Roles: No direct reports
• Peers: Other Tait staff in Regions (Account Managers, Engineers, Project Managers) and in Christchurch (TELSE, Support Services, Product Managers, Product Development)

Occupational Safety and Health: All staff have an obligation to follow Tait policy and procedures. It is imperative that all employees actively participate in managing risks and hazards, reporting accidents, incidents and near accidents, and avoiding any action which may cause harm to yourself or others. This includes:

• Working in a safe manner to protect yourself, your fellow workers and all plant, property and equipment.
• Only operating equipment for which you have been trained and/or instructed in and hold appropriate authorisations for, or with specific supervision.
• Cooperating with all displayed rules, safety regulations, instructions, policies and procedures.
• Keeping your work area or equipment clean and tidy and maintaining a high level of housekeeping.
• Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Ensuring no acts or omissions while at work causes harm to yourself or any other person.
• Being familiar with all emergency equipment in your work area and all work-site emergency procedures.
• Not wilfully interfering with or misusing items or facilities provided in the interest of safety.
• Reporting all workplace illnesses, injuries and incidents as soon as possible using the reporting form and taking all reasonable action to eliminate their recurrence.
• Reporting any hazardous condition, situation or event.

Person Specification:

• Relevant competencies
• Organised: Sets priorities through thinking about the implications of issues for customers and Tait’s business; escalates urgency where appropriate; anticipates needs and prepares before they need to respond to issues; uses issue tracking systems to get action; monitors and follows up to maintain progress and identifies further opportunities; takes responsibility for getting things done.
• Knowledge Management: A high level of detail captured in documentation, including records of agreements, variations, timelines and other relevant details; provides a précis of the requirements and design, and final authorisations; checks final documentation against specification to ensure all requirements met; keeps documentation up to date when changes occur.
• Gaining Cooperation: Develops an understanding of people’s personal needs and selling points and what may be done to meet these; works to build and sustain enthusiasm for a project to gain willing cooperation; communicates the objectives of the client and of Tait in completing the project; ensures those working on the project have the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully complete their part.
• Solution Design: Designs a solution based on specification; presents a business solution, looking at what the client’s objectives are rather than just what they have ordered; draws systems diagrams to complete a detailed specification on which to base pricing and proposals using Tait product wherever possible.
• Evaluating: Evaluates requirements and assesses Tait’s ability to deliver against the specification; accesses and decides on appropriate technologies; uses processes to assess risk and opportunity; decides if there is adequate information available; uses available tools to decide costs; makes decisions within delegated authority limits.
• Interpreting: Interpreting design and matching requirements to Tait capabilities – point to point compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements; researching and sourcing supplier technologies to complement Tait offerings; identify issues of non-compliance and finding ways around these; testing possible solutions.
• Commercial Acumen: Ensure a profitable return on business by producing accurate costings; assessing the cost implication of variations to proposals and taking action to maintain the profitability of the project; sourcing costing information from knowledge bases and other databases; ensures internal customers are aware of costs.
• Keeps Informed: Keeps relevant people informed of progress, issues, or changing requirements that impact on them; provides clear information and communications; confirms verbal discussions or understandings in writing; feeds back market information to internal clients within Tait.
• Sales Solutions: Documentation captures the nuances of the systems to facilitate sales, product build, maintenance and future projects; provides briefing to others on the benefits and selling points to give them confidence in selling the solution to the client.
• Convincing: Presents a well-argued case for proposals; highlights the benefits of Tait features; accesses supporting material and references to back up proposals; identifies selling points of decision makers and tailors their message accordingly; follows-up to provide further assistance if necessary and identify further opportunities.
• Being Tait: Builds business-focused relationships which facilitate the sharing of information, the smooth delivery of services and constructive resolution of issues; creates relationships which make it easy for people to work with Tait; leaves contacts with the Tait brand, of being great to work with; develops effective team-based relationships which facilitate the flow of information.
• Gathers the facts: Clarifies client’s objectives, ensuring that any action is based on a thorough understanding of their needs; gathers relevant information to assist in the development of clients’ businesses; seeks clarification where things are not clear; uses networks to gather information; is aware of how market intelligence may be useful to other people within Tait, and takes the time to feed it back.
• Tenacity: Prepared to do what it takes; puts in the hours; takes the initiative and works with others to solve problems or remove barriers to successful job completion; passionate about finding solutions to communication issues; lives and breathes the job; keeps skills up but recognises when someone else has more appropriate skills; doesn’t seek to achieve at the expense of other team members; drives to achieve team goals.
• Technical/Professional Experience: At least 5 years in a communications system engineering role or direct experience in related technical domains.
• Skills Requirements: Excellent oral and written communications; attention to detail; making sure issues do not get dropped; excellent customer service skills; system analysis and design skills; a relevant degree-level qualification; Cisco CCNA or equivalent qualification will be an advantage.
• Knowledge Requirements:
• Essential: Good knowledge of mobile telecommunications networks; good knowledge of RF technologies and practices; good knowledge of data communications technologies, systems, and practices; experience or knowledge of project management techniques; detailed knowledge of the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Desirable: Detailed knowledge of Tait equipment and its operation and configuration (may be obtained through training); knowledge of the use of propagation modelling software; practical knowledge of IT networking and network security.
• Other: Excellent communication skills, and the ability to work co-operatively with teams on differing time zones; excellent self-organisation and management; empathy for the customer and regional office and the ability to communicate that; honesty, integrity and professionalism.

Confidentiality of Information: During and after your period of employment you have an obligation to not disclose Tait technological or business information to any persons or organisations if it is not directly relevant to the tasks you are performing for Tait. If you are ever in doubt about any confidentiality issue, first get permission from your manager before you act. You are also obliged to not use or allow the use of Tait proprietary information in original or adapted form for work in a field that competes with or prejudices the interests of Tait. Tait retains the rights to the intellectual property that you develop.

Non‑Limitation Clause: This job description is not intended to be a complete or limiting description of the functions that the employee may reasonably be requested to undertake.

About Us: For more than 50 years, Tait Communications has been designing, delivering, and supporting critical communications networks for public safety, transportation and utility customers around the world. Founded in Christchurch by Sir Angus Tait, we now have a network of customers and offices that spans the globe. Our employees value being part of a creative team committed to providing technological solutions that make a real difference to the communities we support. By joining Tait, you'll be joining a community of people with a wealth of knowledge and expertise, who care deeply about their work and the genuine impact it has for our customers, and who support each other to grow and develop.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement: Tait Communications is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We encourage applications from all backgrounds to apply.

How to Apply: Sound like your kind of role? If you are looking to take the next step in your career and are ready to work for a high performing organisation, alongside talented people, please submit your application with CV and cover letter via our online careers site. Only applications submitted through the official application process will be considered. Applications will be assessed as they are received, and your CV will be held unless you contact us to request this to be removed. For more information about the company, our products and solutions offered to our customers, please visit our website: www.taitcommunications.com. We encourage applications from all backgrounds to apply.