Systems Architect

Location: Bristol (hybrid – typically 3 days onsite
)

Type: Permanent

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.

• 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.

• 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:
  • ARP
    4751 / ARP
    4761 (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.

• Exposure to certification campaigns / regulated delivery programmes (civil or defence), and the reality of turning engineering work into “audit‑ready” evidence.

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.