Head of Strategic Engineering & Systems Architectures

Salary: £40,000 - 70,000 per year

Requirements:

• We require a degree in Engineering or a related subject, or relevant field experience.
• We require full membership of an Engineering Council accredited institution and Chartered Engineer status.
• We require accomplished engineering leadership experience.
• We require deep understanding of the defence operational context.
• We require extensive experience in system-of-systems and data architectures, model-based frameworks, digital engineering, and complex systems integration.
• We require strong collaboration and influencing skills to build effective relationships across engineering disciplines, with customers, partners, suppliers, and the wider business.
• We require applicants to meet the applicable security and export control restrictions for the role.
• We require at minimum Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance.
• Some roles may require higher levels of National Security Vetting, including 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level.

Responsibilities:

• We deliver technical, engineering, and architectural leadership across our maritime mission systems portfolio.
• We define and lead the enterprise architecture vision for our engineering response to the Royal Navys Hybrid Navy strategy.
• We ensure solutions are product-coherent, future-ready, operationally relevant, and aligned with customer and business needs.
• We work closely with customers, programmes, and industry partners to shape technology roadmaps and deliver modular, scalable force-enabled mission system architectures.
• We define and lead enterprise mission system architectures and candidate design solutions across maritime platforms and programmes.
• We oversee integration of combat, sensor, communications, platform, and autonomous system capabilities.
• We provide strategic technical authority, governance, and assurance for architectural decisions and reviews.
• We drive innovation in open architectures, digital engineering, AI, autonomy, and emerging technologies.
• We influence customers, partners, and suppliers to align strategic architectural direction.
• We lead and develop multidisciplinary architecture and systems engineering teams, and periodically deputise for the Chief Engineer.
• We lead a highly skilled team of architects, systems engineers, and integration specialists across all programmes and functions.

Technologies:

• AI
• Support
• Security
• Architect
• Network

More:

We are BAE Systems, and this role is based in Portsmouth (Broad Oak) or Frimley with a hybrid arrangement of three days on site. The salary is up to £103,000 dependent on experience. You will join our Naval Ships Combat Systems business and lead work shaping the future of maritime mission systems across Royal Navy and international programmes. We offer a purpose-driven career with lifelong learning, meaningful work, tailored rewards, support for financial and personal wellbeing, and a balanced lifestyle. We are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, and where diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences strengthen our teams and the work we do.

last updated 37 week of 2026