Principal Systems Engineer

Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer

Location: Isle of Wight – Cowes – 4/5 days weekly onsite

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 £87,200 DOE + bonus scheme

Come and put yourself into a dynamic Principal Systems Engineering role at the forefront of real world demands in the defence industry. Alongside ensuring operational excellence for our existing products, there will be the opportunity to develop next generation radar products to counter emerging threats and contribute to our strategy for new technology. Your new day-to-day will be exciting and diverse by applying the principles of Systems Engineering across the entire engineering development lifecycle as you join in developing radar systems used by those who serve and protect us.

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.

Role description:

You will develop innovative solutions to complex and emerging technical challenges within advanced radar systems, applying broad systems engineering expertise to guide design, resolve issues and ensure technical rigour. Your role includes performing detailed system analysis, managing design trade‑offs and leading the decomposition and governance of requirements using approved toolsets such as IBM DOORS Next.

Acting as a central technical authority, you will drive system‑level decision‑making, lead analytical activities and mentor team members while collaborating with multidisciplinary specialists to shape integrated design solutions. You will also direct system integration, oversee test planning and execution, and define acceptance strategies that clearly demonstrate system performance across diverse operational scenarios to stakeholders.

Core duties:

Developing novel solutions to evolving technical challenges and emerging issues for complex Radar Systems that our customers and end-user communities are facing

Applying a breadth of knowledge, skills and experience of Systems Engineering principles, techniques and governance to steer and develop technical solutions and resolve engineering issues

Conducting system design analysis to manage trade-offs of system parameters to characterise and specify robust product design

Leading the decomposition of requirements to system and sub-system level and manage these in an approved toolset such as IBM DOORS Next

Be a technical focus point with a holistic understanding of the system solution, leading analysis activities and system design decisions and providing guidance to own team

Collaborating with specialists across different engineering disciplines including electronics, electrical, mechanical, software and radar subject matter experts to direct and realise overarching system design solutions

Directing and undertaking system integration, test planning and execution

Defining and articulating system acceptance strategies and acceptance evidence demonstrating system performance across a wide range of operational scenarios to internal and external stakeholders

Essential skills:

Experience of systems design, integration & test

An understanding of Systems and Product lifecycles from concept through to delivery

An understanding of a range of Engineering disciplines (Software, Mechanical, Electrical)

An understanding of Radar Systems is desirable, although not essential if other complementary skills demonstrate a capacity to understand new technologies quickly and effectively

Good inter-personal skills with the ability to communicate to all levels within the organisation and externally

Experience of presenting both technical and non-technical information in a formal setting

Degree (or equivalent) qualified in an engineering or science discipline

The Radar Systems Engineering team:

You will be working as a Principal Systems Engineer within our close-knit multi-function radar team of inter-disciplinary engineers, evolving our radar portfolio of existing and brand-new radar products to address emerging and future threats.

Join us and help shape the future of Radar technology!

Our workplace in Cowes is an easily accessible commute from Southampton with a regular foot passenger ferry and BAE shuttle service from the ferry terminal to site.

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: 17th April 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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