Principal Systems Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 30, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 15, 2026.
Package: £63,900 - £71,000 + Benefits
Role ID: SF20704
Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Principal Systems Engineerat our Malvernsite, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.
The Role
As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across a portfolio of highly secure Defence and National Security programmes, helping to shape and deliver capabilities that support critical customer missions.
Day-to-day, you'll work with multidisciplinary engineering teams, customers and stakeholders to drive technical delivery, coordinate complex projects, manage technical risk, and ensure solutions meet demanding operational and security requirements. This is a unique opportunity to become a key technical leader within an established capability, with the opportunity to influence future growth and direction.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading multidisciplinary engineering teams delivering secure customer capabilities
- Providing technical leadership across multiple projects and workstreams
- Defining technical approaches, requirements and engineering solutions
- Managing stakeholders across customer, partner and internal communities
- Supporting technical governance, risk management and programme delivery
- Driving systems engineering best practice throughout the engineering lifecycle
Essential experience of the Principal Systems Engineer:
- Experience applying Systems Engineering principles throughout the engineering lifecycle
- Experience delivering or supporting secure IT, communications or networked systems
- Technical leadership experience within complex engineering or technology programmes
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experience working within highly regulated or secure environments
- Understanding of Secure by Design principles and systems assurance activities
Essential qualifications for the Principal Systems Engineer :
- Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or a related STEM discipline, or equivalent relevant experience
- Demonstrable experience leading complex technical work within secure environments
- Ability to obtain and maintain UK Developed Vetting (DV) clearance
We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.
This role is 37 hours per week based at ourMalvernsite on a full-time basis. The Malvern facility is noted for its work in electronic warfare, surveillance and complex system integration, contributing significantly to the UK’s defence capabilities. Developing technologies for military and civilian applications, including sensors, communications and cyber security.
Please note that all applicants for this role must be willing to go through DV Clearance.
UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Our Recruitment Process:
At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. One of our recruitment team will contact you.
Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.
Why Join QinetiQ?
As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.
As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq
Our Benefits
- Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
- Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
- Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
- Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
- We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
- Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community