Systems Architect

Description

The company is a global technology business with about 83,000 staff, around 7,500 of them in the UK, working across defence, space, aerospace and digital security.

Its work supports national security and stability, and this post supports its Airborne products.

The team is looking for an experienced architect to work across conceptual and detailed design, integration and delivery, with a track record on mission system programmes.

The role is based at Green Park in Reading and follows a hybrid working model.

Responsibilities

• Define and recommend candidate architectures at solution or solution element level that meet stakeholder needs, following standards, re-use policies, the technology roadmap and business strategy.
• Set the solution architecture by weighing stakeholder needs, technical options, cost, risk and schedule, document the resulting artefacts, and approve lower-level specifications, whether internal or external.
• Plan work, apply systems thinking to problems, write and verify technical requirements, produce reports and specifications, carry out systems analyses, meet milestones and work within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Apply systems thinking to architecture across the product lifecycle, ideally using methods similar to those recommended by INCOSE.
• Derive and model the solution architecture with the ARCADIA framework, ideally using model-based systems engineering.
• Identify ways to test and validate the architecture.
• Detail the design and record design decisions and their rationale.
• Develop the system design in line with the architecture and requirements, and model systems using systems engineering tools.
• Manage the flow-down and implementation of technical requirements from the customer to subsystems.
• Support system verification activities that show compliance with customer needs.
• Work within company processes and the System Engineering Management Plan.
• Deliver engineering activities on time, within budget and to quality, as part of the engineering team.
• Contribute to and write engineering plans, technical specifications, interface documents, test plans and technical reports.
• Make sure design certification meets contract requirements and relevant legislation, including product safety.
• Support engineering reviews and prepare the related technical documents.

Requirements

• Understand systems engineering fundamentals across design, verification, validation, qualification and acceptance.
• Have experience deriving system capabilities, functions and behaviours, ideally with model-based systems engineering and SysML.
• Understand the different actors on a project and be able to shift perspective across political, economic, social, technical, environmental and legal factors.
• Be self-motivated and able to work alone and within teams.
• Have proven product design experience in an engineering or research setting.
• Have strong communication skills.
• Write documentation that is clear and precise.
• Be ready to challenge others' views and accept constructive feedback.
• Have experience with IBM DOORS or an equivalent requirements management tool.
• Have experience with Enterprise Architect, Capella, Rhapsody or a similar MBSE tool.
• Desirable: experience with MATLAB or an equivalent simulation and modelling tool.
• Desirable: knowledge of analogue and digital circuit design.
• Desirable: expertise in LAN systems and armoured fighting vehicle domains.
• Desirable: knowledge and experience of open vehicle architectures.

Conditions

The role is based in Reading, but you may be required to work at other the company locations.

Some projects require periods at customer sites and or integration facilities.

SC clearance is required. Holding it already is an advantage; if you do not, you must obtain it and keep it.

Full SC generally requires five years of UK residence. In some cases, three years of UK residence in the last five may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Everyone receives equal opportunities, pay and working conditions.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance
• Buying or selling annual leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discounts
• Paid volunteering day
• Stocks and shares scheme
• Annual bonus
• Further benefits depending on the role