Principal Engineer – Combat Systems Engineering (External Communications)

Job Title: Combat Systems Engineer – External Communications

Location: Frimley, Portsmouth Broad Oak or Weymouth. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements are available – please discuss options with your recruiter.

Salary: Negotiable depending on experience

What You’ll Be Doing

• Capturing and agreeing technical requirements in accordance with company and programme processes
• Reviewing technical solutions against contractual requirements and regulations for compliance
• Generating, capturing, configuring and controlling design documentation in accordance with company processes
• Generating, capturing, configuring and controlling design change requirements and documentation in accordance with company processes
• Capturing and agreeing input to appropriate Verification Cross‑Reference Index (VCRI), Integration, Test, Evaluation and Acceptance Plans (ITEAP) and Qualification Plans
• Understanding and interpreting User Needs, Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Concept of Use (CONUSE) to derive technical and functional requirements for specific external communication systems
• Ensuring design evidence is comprehensive, captured within IBM DOORS and endorsed by the appropriate authority
• Understanding contractual and performance requirements for external communications systems and supporting definition and acceptance criteria through the LCM process using CADMID
• Supporting the flow‑down of requirements to suppliers and ensuring acceptance of their deliverables is recorded appropriately
• Providing specialist technical support to shipbuilder installation, integration and commissioning activities (including in‑service refitting authorities)
• Providing technical support to integrated performance and acceptance activities, including acceptance of equipment from suppliers through to system acceptance by the customer

Essential

Your skills and experiences

• Knowledge of external (over‑the‑air) communications systems in the maritime defence domain, with comprehensive understanding of radio frequency spectrum, data/voice communications and systems network architecture
• Operational, build, trials or in‑service support experience on a platform, enabling an understanding of operational needs and credibility with the customer and user
• Good awareness of Product Safety and SHE
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with stakeholders

Desirable

• Knowledge of the complete engineering lifecycle with experience across multiple phases of the Engineering Lifecycle

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme, employee share plans, and extensive flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits – including green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts. Eligible candidates may also receive an annual incentive.

The ECS (External Communications Systems) Team

You will join a tight‑knit, diverse team that shares knowledge and expertise. Challenges are met collectively, providing an opportunity to showcase stakeholder engagement and collaborative skills.

This role will lead areas such as Requirements Management and Testing & Integration of equipment into wider systems across submarines, giving exposure to suppliers and customers. Relocation support packages are available across all Submarines roles, subject to eligibility criteria.

Why BAE Systems?

We offer a workplace where you can make a real difference, within an inclusive culture that values diversity, integrity and merit. We welcome people from all backgrounds and aim for inclusive recruitment processes. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect assessment performance, please speak to your recruiter about reasonable adjustments.

Many roles are subject to security and export control restrictions. Applicants must meet Baseline Personnel Security Standard and may require higher National Security Vetting, typically needing 5‑10 years of continuous UK residency, depending on the role.

Closing Date

27th November 2025 – we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.