Systems Architect

Systems Architect (Autonomous Systems)

Location: Bristol (hybrid - typically 3 days onsite)

Type: Permanent

Overview

A high-growth autonomous systems and aerospace/defence engineering organisation is expanding its Systems Engineering capability in the UK and is hiring a Systems Architect to support fast-moving demonstrator and programme work. This is a senior, hands-on architecture role operating close to leadership, helping shape how complex UAS / aircraft-level systems are defined, decomposed, verified, and certified.

You'll sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines-acting as the technical "glue" between engineering teams-and play a key role in translating mission needs into robust, testable system behaviour, requirements, and assurance strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Own system-level architecture from early concept and product definition through to delivery on programme milestones.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across disciplines (e.g., avionics, mission systems, payloads, software, safety, security, structures, propulsion), ensuring coherent end-to-end design decisions.
• Develop and manage requirements (capture, decomposition, traceability, verification planning), including clear rationale and interfaces.
• Drive MBSE practices and system modelling approaches; contribute to selection/use of modelling and requirements toolsets (and associated ways of working).
• Define system behaviour, operational concepts, and verification strategies; support test planning and evidence generation.
• Contribute to hazard-led engineering, including hazard logs and assurance artefacts across the lifecycle.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to help shape engineering direction, standards adoption, and delivery governance.

Required Experience / Skills

• Strong background in systems architecture for complex, safety-/mission-critical products (aerospace, defence, autonomy, robotics, or similarly regulated environments).
• Practical experience with MBSE and requirements/architecture tooling (e.g., requirements management + modelling + PLM ecosystem).
• Working knowledge of safety/assurance frameworks and lifecycle evidence expectations, including experience aligned to standards such as:
  
  
  
  • ARP4751 / ARP4761 (or closely related aerospace systems assurance frameworks)
  • Relevant military standards and regulated development constraints
  
  
• Confidence shaping requirements and verification strategies across multiple subsystems and stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating at principal level: making decisions with incomplete information, moving quickly, and influencing across teams.

Nice to Have

• Exposure to certification campaigns / regulated delivery programmes (civil or defence), and the reality of turning engineering work into "audit-ready" evidence.
• Experience in autonomy / UAS / aircraft-level product development.

Call to Action:

If you meet the criteria, we encourage you to submit your up-to-date CV for consideration. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing how your expertise can make a significant impact with our Client.