HF Systems Architect in Crawley

Thales people architect solutions at the heart of the defence-security continuum. Interoperable and secure information and telecommunications systems for defence, security, and civil operators are based upon innovative use of radiocommunications, networks, and cybersecurity. We are groundbreaking new digital technologies such as 4G mobile communications, cryptography, cloud computing, and big data for use in physical protection systems and critical information systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security, and Space. Your health and well-being matter to us, and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part-time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

This job description describes the requirement for a High Frequency Radio (HF) and HF Products Systems Architect, working in the Network and Infrastructure Systems Business Line of Secure Communications and Information Systems (SIX). The job involves working on challenging bids & programmes to bring new naval and infrastructure HF communications solutions to a variety of UK and overseas customers. The successful candidate is expected to be involved in the design, development, build, test, and trials phases of the programmes.

• Define and execute customer-funded and self-funded R&D tasks in HF communications systems and techniques.
• Participate in international meetings providing input into the development of new HF standards and interoperability profiles, including promoting Thales capabilities as a provider of HF communications systems and products.
• Provide technical leadership for areas of the HF solution, requirements development including determining user requirements, system specification and architecture design, including the use of a model-based systems engineering approach to improve product-line definition and development.
• Manage a number of engineers to complete the HF system design aspect of the solution and to maintain the design baseline through to customer platform acceptance.
• Provide technical support to the IVVQ team during the system integration and acceptance phase of the programme, supporting the planning, implementation, and documentation of systems testing, integration, and customer acceptance.
• Conduct technical investigations into both equipment level and system level anomalies, liaising with software, hardware & drawing office engineers as required.
• Maintain the design and production baselines through to platform acceptance, including specifications, ICDs, cable data sheets, BOMs, and certification documentation liaising with production, the DO and safety engineers as required.
• Provide work package estimates that balance quality, compliance, and cost – subsequently discharge work packages to time, quality, and cost.

• RF equipment familiarity and experience: HF transmission systems ranging from tens of watts to tens of kW including solid-state PA applications and antenna matching systems. Knowledge and understanding of HF receive system design.
• Proven experience of designing communication systems architectures and RF architectures, ideally in the HF band. Experience in the use of MBSE techniques and tools would be advantageous but not essential.
• Working knowledge of modelling the performance of HF communications systems, including HF propagation modelling and topside design considerations.
• Experience of leading a small team of engineers during the design and integration phase of a programme.
• Experience in deriving and preparing system and sub-system specifications from customer requirements and ensuring that the requirements meet the needs of the customer. Decomposition of system requirements (performance and functional) to equipment level requirements.
• Ability to work as part of a team to generate a coherent set of specifications, interface documentation, and estimates liaising with other functions and departments as required.
• Knowledge and experience of Systems Engineering lifecycle activities including PDR, CDR, PRR, and TRR through the design and development phases into production, integration, verification, validation, and acceptance.
• Experience of working with customers, presenting technical solutions or chairing design reviews as required.
• Experience in the design, development, and deployment of naval communications systems, including the aspects listed below, would be advantageous but not essential: Knowledge of naval communications systems, equipment, and infrastructure including management architectures and operational communications. Transverse characteristics and qualification activities including the operational environment (temperature, humidity, shock, vibration, EMC, TEMPEST), safety, security, human factors, ILS etc. Naval installation, commissioning, and trials activities.
• Willingness to travel to both supplier and customer locations.

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. 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. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

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.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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