Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer
Location: Portsmouth Naval Base
We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role
Salary: Up to £57,000 depending on skills and experience
Who we are:
Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.
From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.
Job Description:
This position sits within the Systems Engineering Hub, which is part of the Warship Technical Authority (WTA) Service Hub. The WTA aims to deliver Naval whole ship, systems and equipment engineering support and change management. You will be part of a high performing Systems Engineering team, which works across the Maritime and Land Defence Solutions business unit. You will be required to lead and manage the delivery of on-going contracted workstreams, and deliver tailored systems engineering services to the Asset Management Service Hubs, which comprises of warship Platform Management, Maintenance Management, Supply Chain, Data and Digital Services.
The Principal Systems Engineer provides technical leadership, acts as a technical authority within their scope, engages with customers and suppliers, and mentors engineers to build capability across projects and teams. As a Principal Systems Engineer you will support the delivery of one or more of the core WTA service elements; Design Change Management, Platform Technical Assurance, Material State Management, Obsolescence Management, Specialist Engineering Support, Future Support and Transformation Planning.
Core duties:
- You will understand the full problem space, surface constraints and emergent behaviours, balance trade-offs (performance, cost, schedule, safety, security), and define clear, testable success criteria. Define and maintain how a system works and how they interact; keep interfaces stable; record key decisions and trade-offs; and support bids and concept studies with evidence-based architectures
- You will work with stakeholders to capture, decompose and agree requirements; set acceptance criteria; maintain end-to-end traceability; and manage change with clear impact assessments
- You will champion and govern MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) to capture system definition, behaviour, structure and interfaces; utilise the necessary toolset (e.g. Enterprise Architect); set modelling standards; keep models and documents in sync; and generate controlled outputs that support design, V&V and compliance
- You will break ambiguous, multi-domain problems into clear, testable elements and increments; define levels of abstraction and clean interfaces; use MBSE to visualise dependencies and control scope; prioritise and retire key risks early; and maintain traceability and decision records so complexity stays manageable through design, integration and in-service change
- You will tailor and work with the engineering lifecycle; when required, plan progressive integration, prepare teams for design and test reviews, and drive verification and validation to achieve on-time, high-quality customer acceptance. Drive and support systems integration activities collaboratively with other WTA disciplines when required
- You will collaborate with Asset Management Service Hubs to improve the service offering, and support activities which can be aided by systems engineering principles and toolsets
- You will act as the technical expert for assigned scope; lead technical reviews; follow engineering governance; meet safety and security obligations; and contribute to the evidence needed for assurance and accreditation. Own and deliver concurrent work packages to cost, schedule and quality; define statements of work and technical acceptance; align multi-domain stakeholders; resolve conflicts and issues; and manage technical risks and opportunities
- You will mentor and coach engineers; promote systems engineering and improve ways of working across Asset Management
Essential Skills:
- You’ll have proven experience of applying systems engineering across the lifecycle, including requirements management, architecture definition, integration, MBSE and V&V
- You will be experienced of using high level design methodologies and architectures (e.g. UAF, NAF, TOGAF, SysML, UML) and practical capability in MBSE, using tools such as Enterprise Architect to model system behaviour, structure and interfaces. Additionally, you will have experience using requirements and interface management toolsets (e.g., DOORS), maintaining traceability and controlling system interfaces
- You will have knowledge of applying Systems Engineering standards and principles including ISO 15288
- You will be Degree level qualified (or have equivalent experience) in a STEM or systems related discipline, with desirable awareness of maritime or ship systems. You must be working towards CEng or operating at that level of capability
- You will have an ability to lead, guide and mentor engineers, providing clear technical direction and supporting capability growth
The BAE Systems Warship Support Asset Management Team:
Asset Management gives you the opportunity to work across a number of exciting programmes and services, such as Type 45, Minehunters, Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers, Type 23s & Offshore Patrol Vessels, International Naval Programmes and the Material State Management Service. Being in the Asset Management business, the role opens up further opportunities of working on exciting future developments that align with our customer’s direction and strategy.
Why BAE Systems?
Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.
A place where everyone can thrive:
We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 4th September 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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