Technical Lead - Complex Trials

Package:  56,000 – 62,250 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits Role :
SF20436

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 Technical Lead
- Complex Trials 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.

The Role As a Technical Lead
- Complex Trials, you’ll join our Mission Rehearsal team delivering some of the UK's most challenging and visible defence Trials activities.

Day-to-day, you’ll support Air systems, Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), Surface-to-Air Weapon Systems, One-Way Effectors and emerging defence technologies. We work directly with MOD, DE&S, Front Line Commands and industry partners to plan, coordinate and execute Trials that generate evidence, reduce risk and enable critical capability decisions.

We are seeking individuals who can operate as Trials Technical Leads, Trials Leads or ideally develop across both roles and lead activities from initial concept through to successful execution.

Why Join Us?

Lead technically complex and nationally important Trials activities

Work directly with MOD customers, DE&S, Front Line Commands and external partners

Influence how future defence capabilities are developed and assessed

Engage with cutting-edge technologies across Air and Land domains

Travel to UK ranges and customer locations, including deployments of up to four weeks

Work with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, operations and programme delivery

See the direct impact of your work through successful Trials execution and customer outcomes

Your responsibilities will include:

As a Trials Technical Lead, you will provide the leadership and technical governance required to deliver successful Trials in accordance with the Trials Process and Systems Engineering principles:

Define Trial objectives, requirements and success criteria

Develop Trial strategies and execution plans

Coordinate technical inputs from multiple disciplines

Manage risks, assumptions, dependencies and constraints

Produce and review Trial documentation and evidence

Lead technical reviews and readiness activities

As a Trials Lead, you will become the focal point for live Trial delivery, working closely with customers, Range operations and technical teams to ensure successful execution:

Deploy to ranges and customer sites

Coordinate technical teams, range staff and customers

Lead live Trial events and demonstrations

Manage issues and maintain momentum during execution

Provide leadership and decision-making in dynamic environments

Capture outcomes and lessons learned

Essential experience of the Technical Lead
- Complex Trials:

Technical leadership and project delivery experience

Systems Engineering knowledge and application

Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Ability to influence and coordinate multidisciplinary teams

Confidence in customer-facing environmentsA proactive, adaptable and delivery-focused mindset

Essential qualifications for the Technical Lead
- Complex Trials:

Degree-level qualification in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g., Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Civil)
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 our Bristol site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. We’ll also consider any of our main UK locations. Travel to other QinetiQ and customer sites will be expected.

QinetiQ operates state-of-the-art facilities across the UK that focus on defence, security and technology innovation. These facilities enable QinetiQ to conduct a wide range of research, testing and development activities that support both military and civilian applications helping to advance technology and support national security.

Bristol The QinetiQ facility in Bristol is part of the company’s broader operation focused on…