Principal Systems Engineer

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 7 May 2026
LOCATION
Farnborough
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
CATEGORY
Engineering
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Systems Engineering DOORS MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering) Compliance Verification Aviation Certification (ARP4754, ARP4761, DO178, DO254) Project Management Technical Leadership Risk Management

FULL DESCRIPTION

Principal Systems Engineer

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Farnborough, UK

Job Purpose

As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the design, development, and implementation of the Zephyr system. Leveraging your extensive experience and expertise, you will lead and contribute to complex systems engineering projects, ensuring they meet performance, safety, and regulatory standards. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful implementation, meeting project objectives, and adhering to safety and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Project Management: Manage integration projects from initiation to completion, overseeing budget, timeline, and resource allocation to deliver successful outcomes.
  • Technical Leadership: Provide guidance, mentoring and inspiring a diverse team of engineers, fostering collaboration, creativity and professional growth. Make decisions on technical issues and ensure the team adheres to best practices in systems engineering. No direct Line reports.
  • Compliance Verification: As a CVE, independently verify the compliance of design solutions with applicable regulations. This includes approving all compliance documents, including test programs and data necessary for the verification of compliance with applicable CS and environmental protection requirements4.
  • Spearhead the design process, including conceptualization, specifications, and system architecture, taking into account aerodynamics and mech integration, avionics HW & SW, communication, and payload integration.
  • Operational Support: Monitor and analyse system performance. Lead real-time anomaly resolution and recovery activities to ensure continuous operation.
  • System Design Review: Conduct design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR …).
  • Requirements Management: elicitation, analysis, traceability, prioritisation, V&V, baseline and maintenance.
  • Testing and Validation: Develop and manage extensive testing protocols to validate the integrated systems' performance, including system-level testing, and mission simulation.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all activities comply with PART 21 regulations, which cover the certification and airworthiness requirements for aircraft and aircraft parts12.
  • Research and Development: Stay updated with the latest HAPS technologies and trends.
  • Risk Management: Identify and mitigate technical and operational risks associated with HAPS development and operations.
  • Customisation and Optimisation: Tailor integration solutions to meet the unique requirements of complex missions, optimizing systems for various operational environments.
  • Communication: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, hardware engineers, project managers and analysis engineers to ensure smooth project coordination and integration.
  • Documentation: Maintain detailed records of design specifications, testing results, and project progress. Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Customer and Supplier Interaction: Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers and suppliers. Manage technical aspects of contracts and ensure compliance with specifications.
  • Overseas Travel: Travel overseas may be required as part of this job.

Experience and Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, or a related field.
  • Experience in Systems Engineering tools, e.g. DOORS.
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and teamwork abilities.
  • Familiarity with the certification process and the ability to act as a liaison with regulatory authorities.
  • Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Knowledge of aviation processes: ARP4754, ARP4761, DO178, DO254.
  • MBSE Experience

Department and Location

Department: Engineering

Locations: Farnborough

About [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], we take pride in building and offering an exceptional work environment that values your well-being and rewards your dedication. We believe in recognising your hard work and commitment, which is why we provide a fantastic bonus scheme that rewards your contributions. Additionally, we understand the importance of financial security and support your future with a competitive pension plan. When you join us, you become part of a workplace that not only encourages your professional growth but also cares about your personal fulfilment and financial stability. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

Sign up free — access 45,000+ UK sponsor-licensed jobs