Principal Systems Engineer

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:

To manage the Systems Engineering Process to company and international standards for defined packages of work.  To provide line management and technical leadership to Systems Engineers.

The Principal Systems Engineer typically works with a team of engineers to define what will be designed, how it will perform and how it will be determined that it is working correctly.

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

• Interfacing with the client, to gain approval of test specifications and to host acceptance testing activities

• Help develop and execute test specifications & strategy

• Execute test specifications (according to test plan and project schedule)

• Record and/or authorise results of test execution

• Raise/investigate/verify defects

• Maintain quality target/standard

• Prepare system & subsystem requirement specifications, interface requirements and test requirement documents by analysing, decomposing modelling and refining customer requirements.

• Perform technical/engineering tasks to define system design and subsystem requirements details. 

• Undertake analysis and simulations 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.

• Propose work package estimates and descriptions based on knowledge of the work and project requirements, ensuring that compliant solutions at optimum cost are identified.

• Develop, implement and maintain tools relevant to the Systems Engineering function. Manage the assessment of relevant tools.

• Define or propose updates of processes and standards covering the work and its products based on knowledge of systems engineering.

• Keep abreast of technical development in relevant domain (e.g. sonar systems) both within and outside of the company.

• Manage the production of quality metrics to measure the soundness of the System Engineering processes under your control.

Skills:

• Able to use a range of IT tools (e.g. MS Office, MS Visio, etc).

• Has a sound ability to use system engineering tools. (e.g. DOORS, System Architect, JIRA)

• Has a working knowledge of configuration control.

• Can manage a project through a defined process and is able to tailor CHORUS2 to project needs.

• Can define metrics as part of Quality assurance & control.

• Working knowledge of project plans.

• Has a working knowledge of Engineering Safety Management

Experience:

• The Systems Engineers are the technical focal point for the System Engineering process and must 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 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.

• The success of the Systems Engineering job family relies on the interaction of its engineers at all levels, therefore evidence of team working is required.

Desirable Qualifications and Certification:

• HNC/HND/Engineering Degree or equivalent

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.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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