IAS System Architect - Weapon Systems in Belfast

Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Interested in helping shape the future of advanced Weapon Systems? This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation defence capabilities, influencing technical strategy, and delivering innovative solutions for our customers.

What the role has to offer:

• Support the development of advanced Weapon System architectures and technology plans.
• Work directly with customers, senior stakeholders, and product leaders, acting as a key technical authority across major programmes and strategic initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, de-risk future capabilities, and turn advanced concepts into operational products that deliver real-world impact.

Main Responsibilities:

• Define and evolve Weapon System architectures, including Concepts of Operation, functional partitioning, interfaces, and system-level design to meet operational, technical, and customer requirements.
• Develop innovative technical solutions and proposals for complex Weapon Systems, balancing cost, schedule, performance, risk, and compliance within bid and programme constraints.
• Provide technical leadership and governance across the development lifecycle, ensuring engineering activities, system designs, and project deliverables comply with requirements, standards, and product policies.
• Act as the principal technical interface for customers, partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, supporting technical discussions, requirement trade-offs, and the successful delivery of development opportunities.
• Maintain and apply domain expertise in Weapon Systems, related sub-systems, speciality engineering disciplines, and emerging technologies, identifying opportunities to enhance capability and competitive advantage.
• Support Design Authority activities and communicate technical solutions effectively, using system architecture tools and methodologies to capture, develop, and present system designs to stakeholders across the business and customer community.

About You:

At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply.

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Essential: Degree-qualified in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline, with the ability to obtain and maintain UK SC clearance.
• Significant experience in senior engineering, systems architecture, technical leadership, or product development roles within a complex technology environment.
• Proven expertise in architecting, developing and managing complex systems, including ownership of technical solutions across the product lifecycle.
• Experience developing and delivering technical roadmaps, aligning technology, product strategy, and business objectives.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence customers, partners, suppliers, and senior internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrable leadership capability, able to work independently, provide objective technical direction, manage technical risk, and collaborate effectively within cross-functional leadership teams.

• Desirable: Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Experience in a Design Authority, Chief Engineer, or similar technical governance role, providing oversight of complex programmes or products.
• Knowledge of Weapon Systems and Short-Range Defence, including operational concepts, relevant sub-systems, emerging technologies, and product lifecycle management.

If you're a technically minded leader with a passion for complex systems and emerging technologies, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help us deliver the next generation of world-leading defence capabilities.

Security Clearance Requirement: Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held; however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!