Systems Engineering Manager

Posted 18/05/2026 by Innovate Recruitment Ltd

Location:
Reading, Berkshire

Role: Systems Engineering Manager

Location: Berkshire (Onsite)

Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Allowance

I’m partnering with a leading UK defence technology organisation delivering advanced mission-critical systems that operate across land, maritime and airborne domains.

We’re looking for an experienced Engineering Leader to take full ownership of engineering delivery across complex, regulated programmes. This is a high-impact role leading multi-disciplinary teams and ensuring delivery to scope, cost, schedule and governance standards aligned to ISO 15288 lifecycle principles.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own and lead end-to-end engineering delivery across one or more programmes
  • Drive Systems Engineering best practice (V-model, iterative & incremental models)
  • Lead multi-discipline teams and manage technical dependencies
  • Identify and mitigate technical risk; manage change and configuration control
  • Ensure artefacts meet contractual, regulatory and governance requirements
  • Support programme planning, Basis of Estimate inputs and schedule optimisation
  • Act as senior engineering interface with customers, suppliers and stakeholders
  • Align resource capability with programme demand and future growth

Requirements

  • Proven multidisciplinary leadership within Defence or Aerospace environments
  • Strong Systems Engineering lifecycle knowledge
  • Experience delivering high-assurance, regulated solutions
  • Confident stakeholder engagement at senior level
  • Exposure to Command & Control, secure communications, encryption, sensors or integrated defence capability

This is a challenging brief requiring technical credibility, commercial awareness and strong leadership — but it offers real ownership and influence within nationally significant programmes.

Please note that this role requires candidates to undergo DV clearance

Type:
Permanent
Contract Length:
N/A
Job Reference:
9526
Job ID:
224757979

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