Contractor - Systems Engineering Lead

Pushing Boundaries: A World leader in propulsion engineering from concept to production

Ricardo is a trusted engineering partner specialising in complex propulsion, driveline, and energy systems. We work with customers globally to deliver end-to-end solutions from initial design through to full production. For over 110 years, we have been at the forefront of world‑changing engineering innovation, partnering with many of the world’s most ambitious organisations to improve performance, push boundaries, and accelerate progress.

Headquartered in Shoreham by Sea (UK), Ricardo brings together more than 1,000 experts and delivers in excess of 200 major programmes globally at any given time.

We are seeking a Systems Engineering Lead to take ownership of the vehicle‑level design and integration of advanced defence platforms, with a strong focus on chassis, steering, suspension, and overall mobility performance.

This role sits at the centre of the vehicle development process, ensuring that all subsystems — propulsion, running gear, structure, and onboard systems — are fully integrated into a cohesive, robust platform.

You will play a key role in delivering vehicles capable of operating in harsh environments, complex terrains, and demanding operational scenarios, where mobility, durability, and survivability are critical. You will ensure that the vehicle platform meets performance, durability, and operational requirements while maintaining integration coherence across all subsystems.

• Lead the system‑level architecture and integration
• Define and integrate key vehicle subsystems, including effective integration of the powertrain into the vehicle platform (engine, transmission, driveline, and cooling systems).
• Drive requirements capture, decomposition, and traceability, ensuring alignment with vehicle‑level performance and mission needs.
• Deliver against critical performance measures such as mobility across varied terrain profiles; ride dynamics, stability and handling; durability and fatigue life; reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM); integration within weight, space and protection constraints.
• Lead trade‑offs and optimisation at system level, balancing mobility, protection, payload and power.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams (mechanical, electrical, controls and manufacturing) to ensure coherent platform integration.
• Oversee vehicle‑level verification and validation, including rig and subsystem testing, full vehicle integration testing, mobility trials and performance validation, environmental and durability testing; support safety case development and hazard analysis in line with defence standards.
• Manage system interfaces, configuration control and vehicle‑level BOM structures.
• Engage with suppliers for critical subsystems.
• Mentor and develop systems engineers within the team.

You are a Systems Engineering leader with strong experience in defence or heavy vehicle platforms, particularly in chassis, suspension, steering and overall vehicle dynamics.

You understand the complexity of delivering vehicles that must perform reliably in extreme environments, balancing mobility, durability and integration constraints.

You bring a pragmatic, system‑level mindset, ensuring that complex subsystems come together into a fully functional, mission‑ready vehicle.

• Degree (or higher) in Systems, Mechanical, Automotive or Mechatronics Engineering
• Demonstrable experience in defence vehicles, heavy vehicles or off‑highway systems

• Proven experience in vehicle system architecture and platform integration
• Strong understanding of vehicle chassis design and structural integration
• Suspension systems and vehicle dynamics
• Steering and braking systems
• Driveline and powertrain integration
• Off‑road mobility and terrain performance
• Experience in high‑integrity, mission‑critical systems, including durability and fault tolerance
• Requirements management and traceability
• Functional decomposition and allocation
• Interface definition and control
• Familiarity with vehicle communication networks (CAN, J1939, MIL‑STD)
• Experience with FMEA, DFMEA, and…