Senior Systems Engineer - Communications

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Salary: £72,094.66 - £96,126.21

Closing Date:
Wednesday 9th September 2026

PURPOSE OF JOB:

Manage a team of engineers responsible for aspects of the procurement, safety management, and bringing into service of relevant ATC Systems. Typically, these will be major / complex projects.

Will be required to undertake the Engineering Authority roles in supporting relevant ATC Systems through the entire equipment life cycle.

This role is for a Senior Systems Engineer within our communications (Comms) engineering team supporting air traffic operations at UK airports. You will act an Engineering Authority for Comms systems, providing technical support across the full lifecycle from specification and deployment through to operational support and ongoing improvement within a safety-critical environment.

You will bring strong experience of communications systems, ideally within regulated or operational environments. The role involves leading delivery engineering teams, supporting multi-site deployments, and managing performance, assurance and change for live systems. You will make confident technical decisions and work closely with stakeholders to ensure systems remain operational, resilient and trusted by operational users.

Key responsibilities: -

• Lead and manage a team of engineers.

• Oversee major projects and ensure strategic alignment.

• Act as the Engineering Authority for complex systems.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Project Delivery:

• Negotiate and coordinate project requirements and timelines with stakeholders.
• Produce technical specifications for major systems, reviewing wider team's work.
• Lead production of engineering estimates for project bids.
• Lead and direct tender evaluations and assess technical solutions.
• Support project planning in line with delivery milestones.
• Act as Change Lead for major projects, ensuring change assurance activities are completed.
• Manage day-to-day project activities of team including installation and commissioning.
• Perform acceptance testing and produce test reports, reviewing wider team's work.
• Produce and review maintenance and operating procedures.
• Ensure engineering deliverables are met according to the project plan.

Undertake the Engineering Authority (EA) role for designated systems:

• Prepare and maintain support documentation for allocated systems.
• Respond to customer technical enquiries and manage Corrective Action Requests.
• Monitor operational systems and conduct investigations into issues and faults.
• Plan and implement modifications to correct issues and faults with minimal disruption.
• Maintain awareness of industry developments affecting airport systems.

Team leadership and resource management:

• Manage team members within the Section across diverse locations.
• Allocate team resources to project and other activities within area of responsibility.
• Ensure that direct reports and wider team are suitably competent, identifying training needs and support team and personal development as required.
• Ensure the performance of direct reports and wider team is reviewed periodically.

AUTONOMY:

• The post holder commits resources within their direct control to achieve project deliverables within agreed financial limits.
• Assists in identifying the strategic aims of assigned projects and works tactically to deliver agreed customer solutions.
• As Engineering Authority will pro-actively recommend activities and resources required to address asset support issues.
• Responsible for up to 3 direct reports, with responsibility for a wider team of up to 10 Plays a co-ordinating role for subcontractors.

SCOPE OF JOB:

• Lead a team delivering engineering projects and providing Engineering Authority support to current Operation Systems within a particular domain. The post holder is expected to resolve conflicting demands on their time and of the wider team, in…