Systems Integration and Test Engineer in Somerset, Templecombe

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.

Under Water Systems (UWS) Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world keep our friends, families and all of us safe. We cover four sectors: Mine Counter Measures, Anti-Submarine warfare, Services and Future Capabilities.

Primary Purpose of the Role:

The Communications and Acoustic Products (CAP) team support the development and maintenance of RF communications systems and products including antennas, processing and distribution equipment, communications buoys, across multiple projects. The Systems Integration and Test Engineer (IVVQ Engineer) will work with the CAP engineering delivery team to enable early identification of key customer and legislative requirements in response to customer RFQs. These will be used to inform solution orientation capturing the scope of work required, enabling analysis to provide informed, cost, schedule, and resource estimates to deliver the project.

An IVVQ Engineer typically takes the lead in all aspects of system integration and system testing including writing/authorising test specifications, conducting/authorising the testing, reporting and/or investigating defects.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Converts requirements into conceptual designs and prepares associated documentation by performing operational analyses, simulations and technical trade-off studies evaluating alternative design configurations and functional features.
• Good understanding of the development lifecycle and lifecycle products.
• Interfacing with the client, to gain approval of test specifications and to host acceptance testing activities.
• Writing and/or authorising the execution of Test Specifications.
• Execute test specifications (according to test plan and project schedule).
• Recording and/or approving of results of test execution.
• Raise/investigate/verify defects.
• Maintain agreed quality target/standards.
• Provide status reports to the Principal IVVQ Engineer.
• Identify test method (IADT) Infeed / own / drive design reviews (CDR, PDR, TRR, TQR and FQR).
• Able to create and/or authorise outline designs from requirements using a variety of design toolsets.
• Similarly creates new concepts or modifies existing concepts to fulfil requirements where necessary.
• Prepares system & subsystem requirement specifications, interface requirements and test requirement documents by analysing, decomposing modelling and refining customer requirements.
• Prepares system operational plans and reports that explain how the equipment being developed meets requirements.
• Operational design limits are evaluated and defined; performance analyses and simulations are developed & performed to support the above.
• Performs technical/engineering tasks to define system design and subsystem requirements details.
• Analysis and simulations are performed as necessary to identify design feasibility & driving requirements.
• Supervises staff, by defining their work, coaching them on how and what to prepare, monitoring their progress and directing them on priorities.
• Proposes work package estimates and descriptions based on knowledge of the work and project requirements, ensuring that compliant solutions at optimum cost are identified.
• Accurately reports work progress and estimates to complete against work packages.
• Investigates problems in the field or with the systems IVVQ documentation.
• Develop, implement and maintain tools relevant to the Systems Engineering function. Lead in the assessment of relevant tools.
• Keep abreast of technical development both within and outside of the company.
• Lead the production of System / IVVQ Engineering estimates at optimum cost.
• Produce quality metrics to measure the soundness of the System / IVVQ Engineering processes under your control.
• Working with project planners to provide detailed input to specific project programs.
• Represent System / IVVQ Engineering at formal Design Reviews, with particular attention to the reduction of design risks.
• Lead System / IVVQ Cost Reviews as part of a Bid team.

Skills:

• Able to use a range of IT tools (e.g. MS Office, MS Visio, etc).
• Has a sound ability to use and/or assess System Engineering tools. (e.g. DOORS, System Architect, JIRA)
• Has knowledge of configuration control.
• Can produce and/or interpret metrics as part of Quality control.
• A working knowledge of project plans.
• Has knowledge of Engineering Safety Management.

Experience:

The Lead Systems / IVVQ Engineers are the IVVQ and technical focal points for the System Engineering process and must aim to resolve all issues, problems, questions and conflicts in the entire system. This requires frequent handling of new and unusual issues; therefore a proven record of working in a Systems / IVVQ Engineering environment is required. The post holder should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate at all levels in the spoken and written word. A good outward appearance, self-motivation and the ability to work under pressure are vital. As Lead IVVQ Engineer experience dealing with both functional and non-functional testing is required. The success of the Systems Engineering job family relies on the interaction of its engineers at all levels, therefore good evidence of leading a team is required.

Desirable Qualifications and Certification:

• HND/Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent.
• Communication / RF system experience.
• Experience in shock / vibration / EMC / thermal testing.

Essential:

• Have attained, or working towards an appropriate professional status or equivalent.

Financial / Budgetary Responsibility:

The post holder may be expected to deliver designs/projects to an agreed budget.

UK Eyes Only:

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.