Job Title: Principal Systems Engineer
Location: Bristol, Warrington, Newbury or Leicester – Hybrid Working Arrangement
Compensation: Competitive + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
At Cavendish Nuclear we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Systems Engineer at our one of our Cavendish Nuclear Hubs.
The role
As a Principal Systems Engineer, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. This is a senior position within the PP&E Programme supporting a major UK defence programme. You’ll provide functional and technical leadership across the full systems engineering lifecycle and act as the conduit between delivery teams, strategic partners, and internal capability development.
Day-to-day, you’ll lead systems engineering strategy and functional excellence, overseeing delivery across requirements management, integrated test and evaluation, model-based systems engineering, and system architecting.
1. Lead systems engineering across multiple project streams and serve as Senior Engineering Manager equivalent
2. Own and maintain key functional strategies, plans and procedures, including the PP&E Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP)
3. Support and mentor CNL systems engineers, demonstrating best practice and developing team capability
4. Provide line management to CNL staff within the SE function
5. Lead the development of organisational design for SE delivery within the PP&E Programme
6. Oversee technical SQEP assessments for incoming SE candidates and liaise with resourcing functions
7. Represent the SE function at key forums including Technical Boards, Engineering Reviews and the Integro Technical Oversight Team
This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements at one of our Cavendish Nuclear Hubs.
Essential experience of the Principal Systems Engineer
8. Leadership of systems engineering delivery across multi-package, complex programmes
9. Strong background in safety-critical or regulated environments (e.g. defence, nuclear)
10. Experienced in requirements management, V&V, systems architecting, and MBSE
11. Ability to lead capability development, mentor teams and coordinate technical delivery
Qualifications for the Principal Systems Engineer
12. A degree in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role. Further details are available at .
What We Offer
13. Generous holiday allowance
14. Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
15. Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
16. Employee share scheme
17. Employee shopping savings portal
18. Payment of Professional Fees
19. Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
20. Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows the majority of employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement
21. ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
22. Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing
Cavendish Nuclear
As a leader within the UK nuclear industry, Cavendish Nuclear, part of