{"id":3248825,"url":"https://alion.io/job/qinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer","title":"Senior Principal Systems Engineer","company":{"id":51551,"name":"QinetiQ","domain":"qinetiq.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/qinetiq","size_band":"1-10","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bristol, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":72000,"max":80000,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":106996},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-16","last_verified_at":"2026-10-26T15:56:36Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":10,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":10},"description":"Package: £72,000 - £80,000 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits\nRole ID: SF20750\nAre 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 Senior Principal Systems Engineer at our Bristol site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.\nThe Role\n As a Senior Principal Systems Engineer, you’ll provide Technical Leadership across the system developments underpinning Trials, Test and Evaluation (T3E) capability applicable to our Mission Rehearsal IDT (Integrated Delivery Team). This includes the T3E Air Range Modernisation programme, delivery of future “digital ranges” infrastructure, live virtual-constructive capability as well as integration of un-crewed systems into range infrastructure and rehearsal capability.\nDay-to-day, you’ll will ensure technical programmes of work are delivered with excellence (time, quality, cost), in collaboration with senior programme/portfolio managers, the IDT Lead and that technical risks alongside safety are managed.\nAdditionally, you will cohere strategy and the technical direction of programmes acting as the senior engineering interface with principal customers and stakeholders. This will include MOD, OGD, T3E, Heads of Site, Range Engineering Managers, Technical Function, Business, T3E Futures, and Campaigns.\nYour responsibilities will include:\nActing as the Senior Design Authority (where delegated) and the Senior Engineering Authority\nWorking with Programme Managers to deliver the programmes on-time, on-cost, on-quality in a safe and secure manner\nEnsuring a resilient engineering team, working with Technical and Resourcing stakeholders to ensure coherent succession plans are in place and avoiding single points of failure\nEnsuring the technical needs of the IDT are clearly articulated, and the supplied technical teams have the right level of competence and domain knowledge\nEngaging with stakeholders across the customer community (UK Defence, T3E Futures, T&E Campaign and beyond) as required\nProviding guidance, mentoring, coaching and advice to Technical Leads and other technical staff\nEssential experience of the Senior Principal Systems Engineer:\nProven Technical Leadership across multiple projects or programmes\nExperience in Defence, Aerospace or related sectors/projects (we can consider Civil Engineering, Nuclear, Rail among others)\nUnderstanding the role of engineering management in the context of a complex business environment\nUnderpinning knowledge of complex systems development and systems engineering practices\nUnderstanding the influence of safety, security and regulatory requirements\nStrong business and commercial awareness\nEssential qualifications for the Senior Principal Systems Engineer:\nDegree (or equivalent experience) in a STEM discipline\nChartered Engineer (desirable)\n\nWe 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.\nThis role is 37 hours per week based at our Bristol site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. Travel to other QinetiQ and customer sites will be expected.\nBristol\nThe QinetiQ facility in Bristol is part of the company’s broader operation focused on defence and technology innovation. The site houses a diverse team of engineers, scientists and technical professionals who bring expertise to various projects ensuring high-quality outcomes.\nPlease note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.\nUKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)\nOur Recruitment Process:\nAt 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 . One of our recruitment team will contact you.\nMany 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.\n\nWhy Join QinetiQ?\nAs 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.\nAs 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\nOur Benefits\nMatched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance\nGenerous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days\nOptions to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance\nEmployee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more\nWe 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\nVolunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community","description_format":"text","description_chars":6413,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Dental insurance","Health insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Defense Manufacturing","Engineering Services","Testing, Inspection & Certification"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-25T19:46:43Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":77,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.857,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":10,"expected_fill_days":18,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:mid","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":106996,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/qinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/qinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-26T19:36:05Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":26347,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":51551},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=51551"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fqinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fqinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fqinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/qinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fqinetiq-senior-principal-systems-engineer"}]}