Senior Defence Systems Technologist

Use systems thinking and emerging technology to solve Defence challenges that matter.

We're looking for an experienced Defence Systems Technologist who can turn complex operational problems into coherent, integrated and deliverable capability. You'll work with military users, programme teams, architects, engineers and senior stakeholders, connecting mission needs with the wider Defence technology ecosystem.

This is more than a conventional solution architecture role. You'll combine mission understanding, systems thinking and sound technology judgement to clarify options, expose dependencies and help people make better decisions. Your architecture will not exist simply to create diagrams; it will help turn strategic intent into practical delivery.

• Work with military users and stakeholders to understand operational needs, constraints and measures of success.
• Apply systems thinking across people, processes, information, technology and organisations, decomposing complex requirements into capabilities, functions, services, systems and interfaces.
• Develop mission, system and solution architecture views that show how capabilities fit within the wider Defence ecosystem.
• Identify dependencies across networks, cloud, data, identity, security, gateways, infrastructure and related programmes, considering interoperability and information exchange from the outset.
• Develop and assess technical options, making risks, trade-offs, gaps and opportunities for reuse clear to decision-makers.
• Support governance, assurance, procurement and supplier discussions, while working with delivery teams to keep architectural intent achievable.
• Explain complex technical issues clearly to technical and non-technical audiences and challenge assumptions constructively.

• Experience of military or Defence systems gained through the Armed Forces, government, industry or a related environment.
• Experience in systems engineering, architecture, mission engineering, capability development or technical consultancy.
• Strong requirements capture, analysis and decomposition skills, with an understanding of system-of-systems environments.
• The ability to move confidently between strategic intent and technical detail, build trusted relationships and facilitate productive workshops.
• Strong technical judgement, intellectual curiosity and clear written and verbal communication.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain Security Check (SC) clearance, with the potential to obtain Developed Vetting (DV).

Experience with Defence or NATO architecture frameworks, interoperability, coalition environments, secure information exchange, Cross-Domain Solutions, SysML, UML or Archi Mate would be useful, but it is not a checklist. We care most about how you think, how quickly you understand difficult problems and how effectively you connect operational need with technical reality.

You’ll maintain practical awareness of developments across military and commercial technology, including AI, cloud and edge computing, mission systems, data, cyber, identity, communications, autonomy, sensing, space and digital engineering. You do not need to be a specialist in every area. You should be able to test relevance, recognise hype, ask informed questions and know when specialist expertise is needed.

At Darter, we help organisations tackle nationally important challenges across Defence, national security, government and technology. We combine strategic thinking with practical delivery to create lasting impact. Our culture is collaborative, supportive and ambitious, grounded in excellence, empathy and integrity.

• Meaningful work that contributes to the UK's security and resilience.
• A supportive, values-led culture built on excellence, empathy, and integrity.
• Salary of £90,000 - £120,000 depending on experience, performance and profit-share bonus, and share options plus;
• Pension matched up to 10%. Private health insurance. Dedicated learning and development budget. Flexible, remote-first working. Unlimited holiday. Volunteering leave and matched charitable donations.