Principal Systems Engineer in Bristol

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Systems Engineer at our Babcock Technology Centre site.

The Role

As a Principal Systems Engineer, you’ll take on a senior technical leadership role with accountability for the delivery of complex systems engineering activity across the full engineering lifecycle. This is an exciting opportunity to influence high‑impact defence programmes, lead multi‑disciplinary engineering teams and shape solutions that operate at system‑of‑systems level.

Day‑to‑day you’ll be required to:

• Lead and coordinate systems engineering activity across integration, software, safety, security, human factors and installation disciplines.
• Manage and deliver engineering outputs across the full lifecycle, from requirements through to Factory Acceptance Test and beyond.
• Champion and tailor the Babcock Engineering Process to ensure quality, safety and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and mitigate technical and delivery risks while supporting programme performance and key milestones.
• Report and improve engineering performance against project KPIs, driving continuous improvement initiatives.

You’ll be trusted to guide engineering strategy, manage change and growth, and ensure solutions meet demanding quality, safety and security requirements. In return, you’ll gain exposure to nationally significant programmes, develop your leadership capability and strengthen your professional profile within a globally respected engineering organisation.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with days onsite and days working from home. You’ll be onsite as and when required, dependent on business needs.

Essential experience of the Principal Systems Engineer

• Extensive and demonstrable systems engineering management and solution design and delivery experience, with full lifecycle engineering management experience.
• Knowledge of UK MoD practices and ways of working.
• Proven background in system and software integration within large, complex system‑of‑systems programmes.
• Experience managing technical specialisms including safety, human factors, commissioning and integration.
• Experience of a range of delivery methods (waterfall, lean, agile, DevOps, etc.).

Qualifications for the Principal Systems Engineer

• Engineering Degree or equivalent.
• HNC/HND with equivalent, relevant experience is valued and welcomed.
• Chartered Engineer or working towards.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions.

What We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
• This Window opens February through to March annually
• Be Kind Day enables employees to take one working day’s paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing
• A relocation package for those outside of the region

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal. We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date: 09/02/2026