Radar Systems Engineer

We're looking for a Systems Engineer to support the procurement, safety management, integration, and in‑service support of key Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems, with a focus on Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) and Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR).

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working across the full lifecycle of equipment - from requirements and design through to commissioning, testing, and ongoing support.

You'll be working on smaller or less complex systems, but with plenty of room to grow into Engineering Authority responsibilities and support wider ATC infrastructure.

What You'll Be Doing

Project Delivery & Technical Support

Work with stakeholders to agree project requirements, timelines, and technical needs
Write technical specifications for new or upgraded systems
Support engineering estimates and bid activities
Evaluate tenders and assess supplier technical proposals
Help plan project delivery in line with key milestones
Lead small project changes and ensure change control is followed
Oversee installation, commissioning, acceptance testing, and documentation
Ensure engineering deliverables are completed on time and to standard

Engineering Authority Responsibilities (for assigned systems)

Maintain technical documentation and support materials
Respond to technical queries and manage corrective action requests
Monitor live operational systems and investigate faults
Plan and deliver system modifications with minimal operational impact
Keep up to date with relevant technology trends in ATC and radar systems

Team Leadership & Coordination

Manage up to 3 direct reports
Allocate team members to projects and tasks
Identify skills gaps and training needs
Conduct performance reviews and support career development
Coordinate activities with subcontractors and cross‑functional teams

Autonomy & Scope

Manage resources within agreed budgets
Assist in defining project objectives and deliver solutions tactically
Act as decision‑maker for Engineering Authority recommendations
Support multiple projects at once and prioritise workloads
Provide technical support to operational teams, sometimes at short notice
Deliver training or competency assessments when required
Participate in on‑call support rotas when designated

Experience & Skills We're Looking For

Essential

HNC/HND (Level 4+) in Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline
OR relevant apprenticeship / extensive experience in a comparable environment (RAF, Navy, Rail, ATSEP, Safety‑Critical sectors)
Experience maintaining or supporting systems used in ATC or similar high‑integrity environments
Understanding of safety‑critical systems and operational risk
Strong communication skills - able to explain technical topics clearly
Calm, analytical problem solver with structured incident‑management approach
Able to interpret technical details and relay them in business‑friendly language
Comfortable working across multiple environments and tasks
Strong planning, scheduling, and time‑management ability
Good interpersonal skills with customers, suppliers, and internal teams
Commitment to continuous professional and technical development
Competent with IT tools for documentation and project management

Desirable

Experience with ATC equipment, regulations, standards, or ATSEP training
Understanding of Air Traffic Management procedures
Broad knowledge of airport systems and operational technologies
Passion for ATC, system safety, and aviation technology

Desirable Technical Expertise (Surveillance Systems)

Knowledge of PSR (Primary Surveillance Radar) and SSR (Secondary Surveillance Radar) sensors
Hands‑on experience with radar installation, operation, data integration, networking, and troubleshooting
Radar modelling, simulation, and performance testing (including flight trials)
Strong grounding in RF engineering, including antenna, transmitter, and receiver behaviour

Why Join?

You'll be part of a team keeping critical ATC systems safe, reliable, and operational, while gaining valuable experience with radar and surveillance technologies used across major UK airports