Systems Architect - Weapon Systems

Salary: £66,000 - 106,000 per year

Requirements:

• Degree-qualified in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline, with the ability to obtain and maintain UK SC clearance
• Significant experience in senior engineering, systems architecture, technical leadership, or product development roles within a complex technology environment
• Proven expertise in architecting, developing, and managing complex systems, including ownership of technical solutions across the product lifecycle
• Experience developing and delivering technical roadmaps, aligning technology, product strategy, and business objectives
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence customers, partners, suppliers, and senior internal stakeholders
• Demonstrable leadership capability, able to work independently, provide objective technical direction, manage technical risk, and collaborate effectively within cross-functional leadership teams
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent professional accreditation is desirable
• Experience in a Design Authority, Chief Engineer, or similar technical governance role, providing oversight of complex programmes or products is desirable
• Knowledge of Weapon Systems and Short-Range Defence, including operational concepts, relevant sub-systems, emerging technologies, and product lifecycle management is desirable

Responsibilities:

• Define and evolve Weapon System architectures, including Concepts of Operation, functional partitioning, interfaces, and system-level design to meet operational, technical, and customer requirements
• Develop innovative technical solutions and proposals for complex Weapon Systems, balancing cost, schedule, performance, risk, and compliance within bid and programme constraints
• Provide technical leadership and governance across the development lifecycle, ensuring engineering activities, system designs, and project deliverables comply with requirements, standards, and product policies
• Act as the principal technical interface for customers, partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, supporting technical discussions, requirement trade-offs, and the successful delivery of development opportunities
• Maintain and apply domain expertise in Weapon Systems, related sub-systems, speciality engineering disciplines, and emerging technologies, identifying opportunities to enhance capability and competitive advantage
• Support Design Authority activities and communicate technical solutions effectively, using system architecture tools and methodologies to capture, develop, and present system designs to stakeholders across the business and customer community

Technologies:

• Support
• LESS
• Security
• Architect

More:

We are Thales, a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees across five continents and over 7,500 people in the UK, working across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security. Based in Belfast, this permanent full-time hybrid role requires a minimum of 3 days per week in the office and involves less than 15% travel. You will join our Integrated Airspace Protection Systems team, helping to protect and defend through rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement, and support across Surface Attack & Air Defence, Air Defence International, and Air Operations & Services as well as Space. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including performance-related bonus, half day every Friday, 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, opportunity to buy additional leave, paid volunteering time, private healthcare, pension, life cover, employee assistance and wellbeing support, discounts, and gym membership savings.

last updated 36 week of 2026