Design Authority - Flight Avionics

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.

We are seeking a Design Authority to take on a critical technical leadership role within a complex aerospace and defence environment. This position sits at the heart of engineering governance, providing independent assurance that solutions are viable, compliant, safe, and deliverable across the full lifecycle—from bid through to in-service delivery. This is not a hands-on design role. It is a high-impact position focused on technical oversight, decision authority, and risk validation across advanced avionics and mission systems programmes.

As Design Authority, you will act as the technical gatekeeper for major programmes and product developments. You will independently assess solution architectures, technologies, and delivery strategies, ensuring they meet operational, regulatory, and commercial expectations before approval. You will engage with senior stakeholders across engineering, product, safety, cyber, and commercial functions, influencing key decisions and ensuring robust technical governance throughout.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide independent validation of solution feasibility across architecture, technology, cost, schedule, and risk
• Approve Design Validation (DVa) and support certification activities including Certificate of Design (CoD) / Design Performance (DDP)
• Ensure compliance with civil and military aerospace regulations, safety standards, and cybersecurity requirements
• Assess system maturity, integration strategies, and supplier capabilities
• Oversee risk identification and mitigation planning across bids and programmes
• Support design reviews, baseline decisions, and critical issue resolution
• Ensure safety cases are robust, risks are ALARP, and liability exposure is controlled
• Report on key technical risks and assurance outcomes to senior leadership and governance boards
• Coach and support engineering teams, improving decision-making quality and capability development

Experience Required

• Strong domain expertise in one or more of the following: Flight avionics, Military communication systems, Navigation or mission management systems
• Proven experience in systems engineering leadership within safety-critical aerospace or defence programmes
• Deep understanding of system architectures, integration, and complex trade-offs
• Experience working within regulated environments (e.g. DO-178, ARP4754, MIL standards)
• Strong background in requirements engineering, risk management, and design assurance
• Ability to lead technical reviews, challenge assumptions, and make evidence-based decisions

What We’re Looking For

• A credible technical authority capable of influencing at senior level without direct line control
• Strong communicator who can translate complex technical issues for non-technical stakeholders
• Confident decision-maker, comfortable operating under uncertainty and managing risk
• Passion for mentoring and developing engineering capability

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 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. 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.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.