
BAE Systems
Principal Systems Design Engineer
Job Description
Salary: £40,000 - 70,000 per year
Requirements:- We are looking for an experienced engineer with broad and deep expertise in systems engineering, gained within an engineering or defence-related industry.
- We require proven knowledge of software engineering approaches, processes, and procedures, with working knowledge of Agile practices.
- We are looking for significant breadth and diversity of software engineering experience on projects or products, including software engineering in a systems context.
- We need someone who understands business processes and the business environment, and can provide specialist technical advice and guidance to other professionals and projects.
- We will lead the Hybrid Navy Software System Design workstream, ensuring solutions align with the Product Owners vision and capability requirements.
- We will provide technical leadership to the software system design team, setting technical direction and enabling effective delivery.
- We will define, interpret, and manage product and system requirements to ensure alignment with the product vision.
- We will lead the development of high-level system and software designs and document key technical and architectural decisions.
- We will produce and maintain software design artefacts, including requirements analysis, system specifications, and internal and external interface definitions.
- We will identify and manage technical risks while ensuring requirements are validated, approved, and delivered to support successful project outcomes.
- Support
- Security
- Network
- Product Owner
More:
We are BAE Systems, and we offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements, with up to 3 days per week on site and various UK and Scotland locations. This is a highly visible role within our Combat Systems Team, working in a team-based environment on new technologies and ways of working, with exposure to new projects and advancements in Royal Navy Systems. We offer a career with purpose, lifelong learning, meaningful work, tailored rewards, support for financial and personal wellbeing, and a balanced lifestyle. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, and we operate in an environment with security and export control restrictions, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard requirements and, for many roles, higher levels of National Security Vetting.
last updated 38 week of 2026
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About BAE Systems

BAE Systems
Portsmouth
IT
Skills & Technologies
Inferred from job description
Salary Insight
£55,000
This role
£60,000
UK median
This salary is 8% below the UK median for Software Engineers (£60,000/yr).
Based on 2024–2025 UK technology sector benchmarks