Principal Systems Engineer – Solutions Architect, Naval Communications

Thales

Senior Principal Systems Engineer delivering complex naval communications solutions for Thales. Leading multidisciplinary teams across the full engineering lifecycle with international customers.

Posted 5/4/2026full-timeCrawley • 🇬🇧 United KingdomLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the definition of technical solutions, from requirements capture through to system architecture and design
Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver solutions to cost, schedule, and quality
Support bid activities by interpreting customer requirements and shaping robust, competitive solutions
Plan, estimate, and deliver engineering work packages aligned to programme objectives
Ensure compliance with engineering governance, including Thales Chorus 2 and project Engineering Management Plans
Manage technical risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies throughout the lifecycle
Own and maintain the system design baseline through to customer acceptance
Support integration, verification, validation, qualification, and acceptance (IVVQ) activities
Lead technical investigations and resolve system-level and equipment-level issues
Review and manage design changes, problem reports, and technical queries
Prepare and present key design documentation, including validation and certification artefacts

Requirements

What you’ll need

Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex systems programmes
Strong background across the full systems engineering lifecycle (requirements, design, integration, V&V, acceptance)
Experience working within structured governance frameworks and design review milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)
Ability to define system and subsystem specifications from high-level requirements
Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including customer-facing experience and leading design reviews
Knowledge of naval environments and constraints (e.g. shock, vibration, EMC, TEMPEST, safety, cyber, ILS)
Experience with naval communications systems, infrastructure, and operational architectures is highly desirable
Familiarity with installation, commissioning, and trials in a naval or defence context
Proactive, collaborative, and comfortable working in complex, fast-paced programme environments

Benefits

Comp & perks

Performance-related bonus
Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
24 hours volunteering paid for
Private healthcare
Pension scheme
Life cover
24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
Gym membership discounts

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

systems engineeringrequirements capturesystem architecturedesignintegrationverificationvalidationqualificationacceptancedesign documentation

Soft Skills

technical leadershipstakeholder engagementcustomer-facing experiencecollaborationproblem-solvingcommunicationrisk managementproactive approachorganizational skillspresentation skills