Senior Systems Engineer – Defence (Underwater Systems)

ALTEN Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in Manchester seeks an experienced Systems Engineer for a senior role in underwater defence technology. You will manage system-level engineering delivering solutions that enhance national defence capabilities. Candidates should have 8+ years in systems engineering and a solid background in compliance-heavy sectors. The position offers hybrid working arrangements and a diverse array of engineering projects.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Pension Scheme

Cycle-to-work Scheme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• 8+ years in systems engineering within defence or regulated sectors.
• Strong command of DOORS and system requirements management.
• Understanding of submarine systems and complex defence architectures.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver system-level engineering work packages.
• Define and execute validation and verification strategies.
• Lead systems design and requirements derivation.

Skills

Systems engineering

DOORS

Risk mitigation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering

Master’s degree in a related field

Tools

Requirements management tools

Job description

Engineering Talent Acquisition Specialist at ALTEN UK

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 30 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement and support sustainable transformation. Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Location: Manchester (Hybrid – 2/3 days per week on site)

Clearance Required: SC Cleared/Clearable

Experience Level: Senior (8+ years)

Role overview

Play a key role in shaping the future of underwater defence technology. ALTEN is seeking experienced Systems Engineers to support the development of mission-critical submarine systems on a long-term UK defence programme. Working on a complex multi-domain architecture, you'll take ownership across the entire systems engineering lifecycle — from understanding end-user needs through to solution design, integration and validation. This is an opportunity to deliver impactful engineering in a secure, high-integrity environment, where your expertise directly supports national defence capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and deliver system-level engineering work packages across the entire V-Model lifecycle.
• Lead and contribute to systems design, architecture development, and requirements derivation.
• Apply systems thinking to identify and mitigate technical risks, dependencies, and system interfaces.
• Analyse and interpret User Requirements Documents (URDs), create and manage baselines.
• Define and execute validation and verification strategies for complex hardware/software systems.
• Collaborate within project teams to produce high-quality artefacts, from concepts to test readiness.

Skills & Experience Required

• 8+ years in systems engineering within defence, maritime, or similarly regulated sectors.
• Strong command of DOORS, system requirements management, and V lifecycle development.
• Understanding of submarine systems, complex defence architectures, or systems-of-systems.
• Familiarity with system safety, risk mitigation, and change management best practices.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage delivery, and communicate effectively.
• Must hold (or be eligible for) SC Clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in a relevant field such as Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Electronics, Mechanical, or Physics.
• Master’s degree in a related technical discipline is highly desirable.
• Alternatively, a relevant technical background in the UK Armed Forces with applied systems engineering experience is equally valued.

Why join us?

We foster a community of entrepreneurial and technology-focused professionals who collaborate to deliver innovative solutions. We support sustainable growth, accelerated transformation, and continuous improvement through ALTEN labs, mentoring programs, and internal universities. We offer opportunities to work on inspiring projects with Premium Customers, diverse engineering projects and industries, and a range of benefits.

What you get

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
• Opportunities to work on exciting engineering projects and technologies
• A wide variety of engineering projects and industries
• Competitive salary
• Private Medical Insurance
• Pension Scheme
• Cycle-to-work Scheme and additional benefits
• Social atmosphere, team gatherings, and regular events
• Flexible working (role dependent)

Join our passionate team and start building tomorrow, today!

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