Principal Systems Engineer - Capability Lead

Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer - Capability Development
Location: Rugeley
Salary: £DOE

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Principal Systems Engineer to lead the development and growth of Systems Engineering capability across our business.

This is a strategic and technically influential role, ideal for an experienced systems engineering professional who is passionate about establishing best practice, improving engineering maturity, and driving systems thinking across complex multidisciplinary programmes.

Working closely with engineering leadership, project teams, and customers, you will play a key role in shaping systems engineering processes, tools, methodologies, and culture while also supporting the successful delivery of complex engineering projects.

This position offers the opportunity to influence engineering standards, mentor developing engineers, and help define the future Systems Engineering approach within a growing and technically ambitious organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Engineering Capability Development

Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Systems Engineering capability, processes, and best practice across the business.
Drive the adoption of structured Systems Engineering methodologies across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Support the development of engineering frameworks, governance, standards, and lifecycle processes aligned to industry best practice.
Champion systems thinking and promote a collaborative engineering culture across software, electronics, electrical, and mechanical disciplines.
Mentor and support the professional development of Systems Engineers across varying levels of experience.Requirements Engineering & Management

Lead requirements capture, analysis, decomposition, and management activities across complex engineering programmes.
Collaborate with customers, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams to define clear, traceable, and verifiable system requirements.
Ensure requirements are effectively managed throughout the full engineering lifecycle with appropriate traceability and configuration control.
Drive improvements in requirements management methodologies, tooling, and data integrity.Stakeholder & Technical Leadership

Engage confidently with internal and external stakeholders, including customers and senior engineering leadership.
Support project teams in managing requirement changes, technical risks, and evolving customer needs.
Contribute to technical strategy discussions and continuous improvement initiatives across the engineering function.
Participate in internal and external technical reviews, audits, and customer meetings.Tools, Processes & Governance

Lead the use and continuous improvement of requirements management tools and Systems Engineering methodologies.
Support the implementation and maturity growth of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches where appropriate.
Ensure engineering documentation is maintained to a high professional standard in line with company processes and industry best practice.Qualifications / Skills Required

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline.
Significant experience within Systems Engineering roles across complex, multidisciplinary engineering programmes.
Proven experience developing and implementing Systems Engineering processes, methodologies, and best practice.
Strong background in requirements engineering, traceability, and lifecycle management.
Experience working collaboratively across integrated software, electronics, and electrical engineering teams.
Proficiency with industry-standard requirements management tools and methodologies.
Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance across engineering teams.Desirable

Familiarity with defence, aerospace, maritime, or other highly regulated engineering environments.
Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and approaches.
Familiarity with systems engineering standards and frameworks.
Experience supporting Integration, Verification, Validation, and Qualification (IVVQ) activities.
Experience in Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) and through-life capability management.
Chartered Engineer status or working toward professional registration.This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future Systems Engineering capability of a growing organisation delivering complex and innovative engineering solutions.

If you are passionate about Systems Engineering excellence and want to help build and mature engineering capability within a collaborative and forward-looking environment, i would love to hear from you.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Security Clearance (SC) or eligibility to gain is required to be considered for this vacancy

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