Systems Engineering Consultant

Join PA Consulting as a Systems Engineering Consultant and work on complex, dynamic, and interconnected challenges across Defence, Public Services, Transport, Energy and Utilities, and more. You will partner with specialists from across PA to apply proven Systems Engineering and Systems Thinking techniques to solve problems that span organisations and disciplines.

About PA Consulting

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists with deep expertise in consumer, manufacturing, defence, energy, finance, government, health, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

Key Responsibilities

• Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.
• There will be an expectation for you to work from either a PA office and/or client location at least 3 x per week.
• Travel to client site will be necessary as and when the client requires.
• This role can be based from our Bristol, London (Victoria) or Manchester office.
• Application deadline: ASAP.

Recent Projects

• Setting up an enterprise to counter online crime which spans law enforcement, regulators, and social media firms.
• Designing and procuring UK MOD’s future satellite communications services.
• Creating a new international collaboration to design and develop the next generation of fighter jets.
• Embedding a systems approach to capability management and architecture for UK Defence.

Examples of Applications

• Optimisation of mixed technical-digital systems and Operational Technology across large scale platforms in Defence.
• Use of MBSE to articulate architecture and design.
• Implementation of organisational design methodologies to create new ways of working for our clients.
• Design of systems-based frameworks and governance models to improve capability procurement and management.
• Development of cutting‑edge transport solutions shaped by the requirements of modern societies.
• Implementation of AI and machine learning to transform data analysis and engineering delivery.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have proven experience in the application of Systems Engineering and Systems Thinking mindset, tools and approaches, helping to resolve a range of complex and societally meaningful client challenges.
• You will have strong analytical skills, and also be able to apply more creative and abstract thinking to help develop ingenious solutions.
• As a client-facing role, you will be expected to engage and present to clients, and therefore will be a strong communicator (verbal and written), able to highlight recommendations and insights.
• Proven experience working across an engineering enterprise at different stages of the systems engineering lifecycle.

Desirable Attributes

• Demonstrated expertise in solution definition and design, particularly in defining system boundaries, identifying interdependencies across the wider ecosystem, and recognising key stakeholders.
• Experience working on system of systems.
• Experience using modelling and/or architecture industry standard tooling, frameworks and languages.
• Experience in process improvement and tailoring.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative way with clients and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Confident working independently as the day-to-day client point of contact.

Benefits & Perks

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family.
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half‑day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days.
• Generous company pension scheme.
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives.
• Annual performance‑based bonus.
• PA share ownership.
• Tax‑efficient benefits (cycle to work, give‑as‑you‑earn).

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from under‑represented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations – Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com.

Security Clearance Information

Some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance. All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard; however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK. We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.