At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering strategy and drive operational excellence in Underwater Systems.
- Company: Thales, a global tech leader shaping the future with innovative solutions.
- Benefits: Private medical insurance, annual bonus, employee discounts, and more.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security and engineering transformation.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in managing complex engineering portfolios and large teams.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Location: Cheadle, 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.
As the Engineering Director for Underwater Systems (UWS) UK, you will be squarely focused on supporting the future growth of UWS UK through an unrelenting focus on delivering engineering outcomes that enable sustainable and highly effective performance. In addition, you will play a central role in accelerating our engineering transformation to deliver measurable improvements in the Engineering processes, including tooling, strategic outsourcing, Engineering Delivery KPIs, driving efficiency, predictability and continuous improvement through effective use of data and engineering best practices.
Reporting directly to the UWS Operations Director, you will build strong relationships and engagement with key stakeholders across all functions and sectors, including UK COO, UK CTO, Domain MDs and Engineering Directors, Domain Operations Director, UK Engineering Director, UK Functional Leads and through partnering with Thales Romania and Thales India Engineering Competence Centres (ECC).
This is a highly visible role for Thales UWS UK, central to the achievement of forecasted revenues and our market ambitions, whilst also ensuring we support UK sovereignty and security in the Underwater battlespace. You will have the opportunity to significantly impact this through leading on the development of the UWS engineering strategy, operational excellence, driving capability and resilience through strategic resourcing and playing a central role in embedding a high-performance engineering culture, through effective engagement across Operations, CODIR and the UK Engineering board.
Key Dimensions of the Role
- Strategic Leadership & Vision: Develop, own, and lead the UWS Engineering strategy to align with UWS business objectives and UK/Group-level engineering TT2030 objectives. Strategically plan for the development of current and future technical capabilities across JF17-21 (for a direct perimeter of over 850 engineers). Lead the development and implementation of tactical and strategic resourcing plans to ensure business continuity and growth ambitions. Demonstrate thought leadership and implementation in end-to-end system design through to implementation and qualification.
- Operational Excellence: Track, analyse, and drive improvement in engineering KPIs (including EEI and DOTD) to deliver a world-class UWS engineering organisation, accountable to business objectives. Root and branch review of the engineering lifecycle to understand constraints and lead/sponsor specific interventions by programme to show data-driven improvement in the process and the impact on outcomes. UWS Engineering Process Owner, aligning to DDQS Roadmap and ensuring clarity and minimum sufficient governance model. Define and maximize integration between engineering and other business functions to allow clarity and simplification of our End-to-End Processes. Hold accountability for engineering functional cost (£100M) and CAPEX (£4M), ensuring effective budget management and value delivery.
- Programme Delivery & Assurance: Collaborate closely with the UWS Business Sector Directors and key stakeholders to provide engineering delivery assurance across the lifecycle from bids, design, development, integration and acceptance. Ensure robust systems engineering discipline across requirements, architecture, verification, and validation. Champion and oversee priority programmes, ensuring successful and timely delivery. Utilize technical expertise to review and challenge engineering approaches for UWS’s most critical bids and programmes, including participation in key stage, gate, and peer reviews.
- Governance & Stakeholder Engagement: Work collaboratively with UWS Business Sectors to implement effective Engineering Governance and Organisation Principles. Engage regularly with executive stakeholders to ensure alignment and performance. Represent UWS Engineering as the Lead on Thales UK Engineering Boards on all Engineering Pillars.
- Skills & Talent Development: Lead and support UWS Engineering talent development initiatives, including the Engineering Talent Review Process with HR. Develop talent pipelines for key engineering technical and leadership roles. Drive initiatives to improve engineering capabilities and competencies across the function, promoting a high-performance and future-ready engineering team.
To be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate the following Minimum Valuable Experience (MVE): Successfully managed the delivery of large, complex engineering portfolios across the engineering life-cycle, including UK Domain Engineering leadership. Able to clearly demonstrate the development of a strong strategic vision that has successfully transformed engineering function(s) both through culture/behavioural change and technical capability development. Successful track record of working effectively across an environment with multiple stakeholders in a multi-disciplinary, multi-site, international context to achieve business objectives. Effectively managed Competence level budgets, operational plans and projects to ensure critical KPIs and functional metrics are fully achieved. Significant track record of managing large teams (perimeter of 200+ professional engineers), with evidence of leading function, team and individual capability development.
This role is open to UK Nationals only and requires Security Clearance. Closing date for applications is 3 Aug 2026. 1st stage assessments are planned to take place w/c 10 Aug.
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. If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities.
Engineering Director UWS employer: Thales
Thales is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Crawley where innovation meets social responsibility. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to market-leading training and mentorship from industry experts, alongside competitive benefits such as private healthcare, a robust pension plan, and opportunities for career advancement within a diverse global organisation. Join us to contribute to cutting-edge projects in defence and aerospace while enjoying a supportive culture that values your growth and well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Director UWS
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Engineering Director UWS role you’re after at Thales.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Thales a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Thales.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Engineering Director UWS at Thales, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Director UWS
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Engineering Director UWS, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Thales a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Thales specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thales
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Thales, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Thales want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
