{"id":3323297,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ultra-ic-principal-systems-engineer-lead","title":"Principal Systems Engineer (Lead)","company":{"id":1994689,"name":"Ultra I&C","domain":"ultra-ic.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/ultra-ic","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":88,"open_postings":4,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.5,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":30,"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Maidenhead, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":67000,"max_usd":112000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":109},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-17T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-17","last_verified_at":"2026-10-30T02:17:55Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":43,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":43},"description":"Company: Ultra Intelligence & Communications\nCyber (UK) BusinessPowering Decision\nJoin the team redefining defense technology. From engineering systems that save lives to leading programs that change the battlefield-find your place in the future of defense.\nCyber Business\nOur Cyber business unit is at the forefront of pioneering advanced cryptographic and key management solutions, facilitating the confidential exchange of vital information for customers operating at both tactical and strategic echelons. Join our team and participate in the innovation that ensures the highest security and trust worldwide.\nJob Description\nThe Ultra Engineering function manages a portfolio of specialist capabilities, generating highly differentiated solutions and products by applying, systematically, electronic, mechanical, and software technologies in demanding and critical environments to meet customer needs. Within the Engineering function the Systems Engineering discipline ensures a defined multi/inter-discipline approach and assures the cross-discipline solution/products support a compliant system, offering a means to gain stakeholder acceptance.The Principal Systems Lead role is responsible for, and assures, a hierarchical implementation of the ISO 15288 processes and practices across the Systems Engineering life cycle, for the assigned project. This Lead role owns the solution in response to the collective technical requirements; furthering the clarity of the requirements for engagement and flow down to the other disciplines; managing the delivery of the required deliverables associated to the candidate solution/capability, whilst also assuring the evidence-base offers a managed approach to progressive acceptance.\nAs a professional at this grade, they need to be able to apply their technical and leadership knowledge, making independent judgements based on reasoned decision making and significant previous experience. Often seen as a referral point or more senior team member, to escalate more complex challenges and opportunities to both the project and Systems discipline. This role is expected to act independently with minimal guidance and may mentor project managers/other discipline engineers/early careers.\nKey Responsibilities\nRepresents the Systems discipline as the lead Systems Engineer assigned to a project, owning the totality of the Systems assigned work packages and tasking, to deliver obligations and commitments to the enabling technical requirements, agreed processes, plans, quality, schedule and budget.\nSupports the Engineering Project Lead (EPL) in delivering the delegated engineering management obligations, defines the team resources needed and delegates leadership and technical responsibilities applicable to the Systems work packages and assurance tasks to the allocated systems team.\nIs responsible for all aspects of the development of technical solutions to large and complex engineering problems, demonstrate alignment to Systems Engineering practices, principles and processes, to ensure customer requirements are satisfied.\nQuantifies and implements a marriage of technical processes and technical management processes to achieve the desired solution, delivering Systems Engineering artefacts, as required, across the engineering development lifecycle, to result in a positive project outcome.\nProvide technical direction and exert technical influence across the numerous project work packages, such that the optimal approach, applicable processes, risk mitigations, architecture, design, and implementation are selected/identified.\nWork closely with the system, hardware, firmware and software architects and design authorities to ensure consistency, design for modularity and re-use, and technical excellence.\nPlans and delivers design reviews, to senior management and customers, to a level of clarity and quality to ensure a successful event/outcome.\nLeads, manages and reports Systems aspects of the project to achieve optimal balance between requirements, solution maturity, technical risk, schedule and cost.\nManage customers and external suppliers to define and achieve expectations and objectives, where the System lead achieves acceptance via the technical solution and related products/artefacts.\nHaving delivered the solution acts as the Design Authority (DA), supporting the in-service phase and future opportunities/change.\nEnsure and review technical/task proposals, providing accurate estimates for the associated effort, costs and risks, for bids and proposals, leading to contract award.\nTechnically lead other project discipline lead/s, working with project management and engineering project leads, to create proposals associated to the technical solution, that drive down project costs, risk and increase margin.\nReviews and signs off significant technical documents; frequently supporting the technical review chair with the significant deliverables.\nManage security of information as defined in the Security manual to ensure compliance with Government regulations.\nActively supports and offers value add improvements to the Systems discipline to grow the overall capability as a whole.\nAs required supports recruitment, early careers development and STEM engagement.\nLeads others, in Systems and outside, to develop greater awareness and implementation of a systems approach, practices and applicable processes.\nLine Management duties, proactively leading and coaching reports, aid the creation of development plans and support execution, whilst measuring continuous improvement in others.\nRequired Experience, Skills and Qualifications\nDegree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or have suitable Defence/Aerospace industry experience.\nSignificant experience and a full understanding of Systems Engineering, the lifecycle, various development models and associated processes.\nSignificant experience of developing high quality requirements and establishing a fully compliant systems design.\nDemonstrable experience in implementing the full Systems Engineering lifecycle as per the applicable ISO/IEEE/IEC standards.\nTechnical and Line management experience of a team of systems engineers\nExperience in writing high quality technical documentation and the formal technical review of such material.\nSubstantial knowledge of System Engineering practices, methodologies, processes, techniques and technology trends.\nExperience of requirement management and modelling tools.\nPrevious experience of hands-on development of either hardware, software or firmware development, particularly in an embedded environment.\nDesirable Experience, Skills and Qualifications\nINCOSE recognition ASEP or CSEP\nExperience working as a technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) and developing new areas of expertise as and when required.\nNCSC security processes and familiar with deliver of associated security artefacts.\nSecurity Clearance\nCandidates must be willing and able to obtain, and maintain, DV security clearance \nNotice\nDue to the nature of the programs we deliver for our customers, candidates may need to obtain the relevant security clearance or handle export-controlled material as defined by the role's requirements. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance for the role. Due to the nature of our work, you must be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. For more information, please visit the UKSV website.\nOur Benefits\nEvery employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:\nParticipation in an Annual Bonus Scheme\n\nPrivate Medical Cover\n\n25 days’ holiday (plus Bank Holidays) with the option to buy an extra 5 days\n\nPension Contribution\n\n4 x Life Assurance Cover\n\nFlexible working hours with opportunity for a 1pm finish on a Friday\n\nFlexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, will writing and more\n\nSecurity Clearance Allowance - where relevant and subject to you holding the required security clearance\n\nDiversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement\nAt Ultra I&C, we are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusivity. Underpinned by our values, behaviours, and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be the best version of yourself. We also believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures will increase our diversity of thinking, ensuring we successfully deliver to our customers. We, therefore, do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also support requests for flexible working arrangements wherever possible. 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