Senior Hardware Architect

Location

Templecombe or Crawley or Cheadle (Minimum 3 days onsite)

Thales Underwater Systems (UWS) designs, develops and supports Sonar Systems applications for anti‑submarine warfare and mine hunting. We seek a Senior Hardware Architect to join a close‑knit, friendly and hardworking team.

Senior Hardware Architect

• Perform a subset of the system engineering activities required to develop a component or sub‑system within the Anti‑Submarine Warfare (ASW) Conformal Array Projects.
• Be technically responsible for the hardware architecture and its consistency with the solution/system architecture.
• Coordinate with the Lead Hardware Architect to ensure top‑down refinement of the solution is consistent with the Sonar Hardware Products (SHP) strategy and constraints, including COTS selection and components reuse.
• Analyse the customer’s and other stakeholders’ needs using advanced studies, simulations, mock‑ups, models or prototypes.
• Describe the requirements, functions and interfaces on the component or sub‑system.
• Formalise the specification and the architectural design to develop the component or sub‑system.
• Prepare and perform the component or sub‑system verification and validation tests.
• Ensure that hardware architecture stability is maintained across lifecycle phases from Bid to Delivery.
• Direct and coordinate hardware architecture studies.
• Approve the technical, technological and methodological choices taken in respect of the selected hardware architecture.
• Guarantee adherence to in‑scope standards, reuse policy and product development plans.
• Identify modelling, simulation and prototyping opportunities.
• Coordinate product definition and assess trade‑offs between cost, customer requirements and technological possibilities.
• Prepare the Design & Justification Files.
• Provide knowledge on state‑of‑the‑art hardware architecting, taking account of future developments.
• Monitor technological developments.
• Lead design elements specific for mechanical or electrical disciplines if appropriately experienced.

• Minimum five years’ experience in a Systems Engineering role in an appropriate engineering field (e.g. Maritime, Aerospace, Defence).
• Equivalent experience in a relevant technical field, either mechanical or electronics design, will also be considered.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment with good interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Proactive, "can‑do" mentality and logical problem‑solving approaches.
• Ability to understand and implement Product Line Engineering strategies.
• Technical leadership in design and development activities, interfacing with other technical disciplines.
• L6 Qualification (degree or equivalent in mechanical/electronics/electrical engineering or a scientific discipline).
• Desirable to have experience in underwater acoustics and/or sonar, design of equipment for the sub‑sea environment, and Design for Cost / Design for Manufacture practices.
• Desirable to hold a Chartered Engineer status or an L7 Qualification (Masters or equivalent).

Due to the nature of the work, you must be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. Existing clearance is advantageous; otherwise, the successful applicant must undergo, achieve and maintain SC clearance prior to commencing employment.

• Half day every Friday, finishing around 13:00.
• Hybrid working options.
• Competitive base salary and pension scheme.
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Life cover.
• Progression and development opportunities.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and access to a mental well‑being app.
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers.
• Relocation support and learning, development and career enhancement opportunities.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer; diversity and inclusion are integral to our success.