At Aquila Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS), we are dedicated to creating a workplace where innovation, collaboration, and excellence thrives. As a joint venture between NATS and Thales, we combine the expertise of leading air traffic control services and global systems integration to deliver cutting-edge solutions in air traffic management.
Join us in shaping the future of air traffic management, and together, we will elevate aviation safety and efficiency worldwide!
We are looking for a Solutions Design Authority to join our team. This role is accountable for ensuring that changes to Aquila’s technical, operational and architectural solutions are coherent, compliant and aligned to customer requirements and operational intent.
In this position, you will act as the integrator of multidisciplinary inputs, translating customer needs into assured, feasible and value‑driven solutions that support safe, effective service delivery.
Your core responsibilities will include:
Leading the development and assurance of solution architectures, ensuring technical integrity, compliance and alignment to customer operational needs.
Translating customer requirements into clear, structured solution designs, ensuring traceability and alignment throughout the delivery lifecycle.
Coordinating multidisciplinary inputs across engineering, safety, operations, technology and supply chain to deliver coherent, system‑level solutions.
Providing technical leadership and engaging with customers and stakeholders to build confidence in Aquila’s solutions and long‑term capability.
This is a senior, hands on technical leadership role where you’ll shape solution design, influence key decisions and ensure Aquila’s services remain robust, sustainable and aligned to future needs.
You’re a senior technical leader with strong systems thinking and the ability to translate complex operational needs into coherent, practical solutions. You are confident working across disciplines, providing clear technical direction and ensuring alignment between engineering, operations and customer outcomes.
You bring a pragmatic, structured approach to solution design, balancing technical integrity with delivery feasibility, cost and risk. You are comfortable operating in regulated or safety‑critical environments and engaging directly with customers to shape and assure solutions.
To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:
Significant experience leading complex solution design or systems engineering activities within regulated or safety‑critical environments.
Strong knowledge of systems architecture, solution design and multidisciplinary integration across engineering, safety, operations and technology domains.
Experience governing technical change and maintaining architectural integrity across complex systems.
The ability to communicate technical concepts clearly, influence stakeholders and support confident, risk‑informed decision making.
You also:
Promote Aquila’s Just Culture, reporting incidents, safety non compliance, or potential issues in an appropriate and timely manner.
Consistently demonstrate behaviours aligned with Aquila’s core values and leadership behaviours in all actions and decisions.
Degree in Engineering, Systems, Computing, Technology or a related discipline.
Significant experience leading complex technical solution development and integration.
Strong understanding of regulated or safety‑related operational environments.
Proven experience governing technical change and maintaining architectural integrity across complex systems.
Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional accreditation.
Experience working with MoD, ATC users or similar safety‑critical customers.
Knowledge of MBSE approaches, tools or defence/ATC technologies.
If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you have relevant experience, we’d still like to hear from you.
201 hours (approx. 27 days) annual leave + 1 Company Day to be used at Christmas (Excluding Bank Holidays).
Time off to volunteer (up to 3 days per annum)
Company Pension Plan (Aquila contribution = employee contribution + 1%, up to 7%)
Life Assurance (2x basic salary or up to 8x if in the pension scheme)
Income Protection
Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 support and counselling
Company paid Private Medical Insurance (Couple cover)
Gain Share Incentive Plan / VCP (discretionary bonus)
Through Aquila’s flexible benefits platform, you can tailor your package, including:
Enhanced Maternity pay
Enhanced Paternity leave & pay
Enhanced Occupational Sick pay
Mental Health First Aiders
Recognition through Altair Award
Employee referral bonus
Due to the nature of the work that we do, 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. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance- United Kingdom Security Vetting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Aquila is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
