You will engage with senior stakeholders across engineering, product, safety, cyber, and commercial functions, influencing key decisions and ensuring robust technical governance throughout.
Key Responsibilities
Provide independent validation of solution feasibility across architecture, technology, cost, schedule, and risk
Approve Design Validation (DVa) and support certification activities including Certificate of Design (CoD) / Design Performance (DDP)
Ensure compliance with civil and military aerospace regulations, safety standards, and cybersecurity requirements
Assess system maturity, integration strategies, and supplier capabilities
Oversee risk identification and mitigation planning across bids and programmes
Support design reviews, baseline decisions, and critical issue resolution
Ensure safety cases are robust, risks are ALARP, and liability exposure is controlled
Report on key technical risks and assurance outcomes to senior leadership and governance boards
Coach and support engineering teams, improving decision-making quality and capability development
Experience Required
Strong domain expertise in one or more of the following
Flight avionics
Military communication systems
Navigation or mission management systems
Proven experience in systems engineering leadership within safety-critical aerospace or defence programmes
Deep understanding of system architectures, integration, and complex trade-offs
Experience working within regulated environments (e.g. DO-178, ARP4754, MIL standards)
Strong background in requirements engineering, risk management, and design assurance
Ability to lead technical reviews, challenge assumptions, and make evidence-based decisions
What We’re Looking For
A credible technical authority capable of influencing at senior level without direct line control
Strong communicator who can translate complex technical issues for non-technical stakeholders
Confident decision-maker, comfortable operating under uncertainty and managing risk
Passion for mentoring and developing engineering capability
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to shape and assure cutting-edge aerospace systems at a strategic level, with direct impact on programme success, safety, and business outcomes.
Security clearance requirement
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.
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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
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