Date Posted:
2026-05-08
Country:
United Kingdom
Location:
Winnersh, Wokingham
Position Role Type:
Hybrid
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business
Location: Winnersh, UK
At Collins Aerospace, we are advancing the technologies that connect, protect and enable mission success across air, land and maritime domains. Our teams work on complex systems where communications, networking, autonomy, AI and secure information flow come together to support real-world operational capability.
We are looking for an experienced Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Architect – Command & Control to help shape future Command and Control systems, define early-stage concepts, influence technology roadmaps and guide complex engineering solutions from idea through to delivery.
This is a role for someone who enjoys working in the “front end” of engineering: understanding what the customer needs, exploring what is technically possible, shaping architectures, assessing trade-offs and helping teams turn ambiguity into structured, deliverable engineering plans.
Why this role matters
Modern missions depend on fast, secure and resilient information. Whether across airborne, land or maritime environments, Command and Control systems need to connect people, platforms, sensors, networks and decision-making tools in a way that is reliable, scalable and operationally effective.
In this role, you will help define the systems that make that possible.
You will work at the intersection of systems engineering, military communications, networking, autonomy, AI-enabled workflows and mission systems architecture, supporting both current programmes and future technology development.
What you will do
You will contribute to the identification of emerging and future technologies, with a primary focus on Command and Control, including communications, networking, AI, autonomy and information management.
You will define and develop CONEMP and CONOPS for mission systems, helping to describe how systems will be used in real operational scenarios and how they will deliver value at a system-of-systems level.
You will capture, analyse and translate customer needs into clear system requirements, architectures and technical solutions, particularly in complex or evolving domains where requirements may not be fully mature at the start.
You will develop and assess architecture options, carry out technical trade studies, and produce clear recommendations that balance capability, cost, risk, complexity and delivery feasibility.
You will support bids and early-stage programme activity by shaping technical solutions, delivery plans, estimates and work breakdown structures.
You will provide technical leadership and systems engineering guidance across the lifecycle, supporting robust delivery against time, cost and quality expectations.
You will act as a technical mentor, helping others deliver high-quality engineering outputs and supporting the development of capability across the wider team.
You will collaborate with internal Collins teams, RTX business areas, external suppliers, Business Development, Programme Management and technical specialists to develop integrated solutions.
You will identify technical risks and mitigations, support technical governance, and ensure appropriate engineering plans are created and followed throughout the project lifecycle.
You will also support design activity involving export-controlled technologies, including awareness of US ITAR controls where applicable.
What you will bring
You will be an experienced Systems Engineering practitioner with strong capability across the full engineering lifecycle, particularly in early-stage concept development, requirements definition and architecture design.
You will be comfortable working with uncertain or evolving customer needs and turning them into structured technical direction.
You will bring strong knowledge of military communication systems, heterogeneous networks, networking concepts and security functions.
You will have experience defining and eliciting system and subsystem requirements, developing high-level architectures and using systems engineering methods, tools and processes to guide technical delivery.
You will be confident engaging with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, engineering teams, programme teams and business development colleagues.
You will be able to make sound engineering judgements based on requirements, constraints, risks, costs and delivery realities.
Skills and experience we are looking for
You will ideally bring experience in several of the following areas:
1. Systems Engineering across the full lifecycle
2. Early-stage concept development and solution shaping
3. Requirements capture, definition and analysis
4. System architecture development
5. Military communications systems
6. Heterogeneous networks
7. Networking and security functions
8. Model-Based Systems Engineering
9. Enterprise Architect, Cameo, IBM DOORS or similar toolsets
10. Verification and validation approaches
11. Technical trade studies and option analysis
12. Technical bid support, delivery planning and estimating
13. Technical risk identification and mitigation
14. Cross-functional technical team coordination
15. Stakeholder communication across technical and non-technical audiences
Additional experience that would be valuable
Experience in any of the following would be an advantage:
16. Airborne, land or maritime system architectures
17. Aerospace, land or maritime system integration
18. Communications standards, datalinks and protocols, including Link 16
19. C2 or information management systems
20. Autonomy within C2, networking or information management environments
21. Open or reference architectures such as MOSA, SOSA, Pyramid or MDIS
22. Routing and switching technologies, including Cisco, Aruba or Juniper
23. SD-WAN technologies
24. Firewalls and network security
25. Wireless networks
26. Cloud networking, including Azure or AWS
27. Microservices or cloud-based software architectures
28. Simulation tools such as Ansys, VR Forces or EMANE
29. AI-enabled or agentic data workflows
30. Toolsets such as Cloudera or Cloudflare
31. Configuration management
32. External network vendor or carrier engagement
33. Aerospace certification, regulation or engineering governance
34. UK MOD customer environment or MOD procurement processes
35. MAA RA1220
36. MAA DAOS
37. Chartered Engineer status
38. Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant discipline
Essential requirements
To be successful in this role, you will need:
39. A degree or equivalent experience in a STEM subject
40. Significant relevant experience in systems engineering, systems architecture or complex technical solution development
41. Knowledge of the military and/or civil aerospace industry
42. Evidence of further learning or relevant training in complex communications and networks
43. Strong customer-facing presence
44. Excellent communication, coaching and mentoring skills
45. Ability to work well under pressure and manage competing priorities
46. Ability to lead or guide technical teams and influence technical direction
47. Sound judgement when assessing integrated engineering solutions
48. SC security clearance, or the ability to obtain it
Typically, this role requires a university degree and around 10 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with around 7 years of relevant experience, although equivalent experience will also be considered where appropriate.
What you will learn
You will gain exposure to advanced mission system concepts across air, land and maritime domains.
You will work with technologies that support the future of Command and Control, including secure communications, networking, autonomy, AI-enabled data workflows and system-of-systems architecture.
You will deepen your experience in early-stage technology development, customer problem shaping, technical roadmapping, engineering governance and complex solution delivery.
You will collaborate with experts across Collins Aerospace, RTX and external partner organisations, contributing to work that has real operational relevance.
The type of person who will thrive here
You are likely to enjoy this role if you like solving complex, open-ended engineering problems.
You may be the person others turn to when the requirement is unclear, the architecture needs shaping, or the technical path needs structure.
You will be comfortable moving between big-picture thinking and practical delivery planning. One moment you may be exploring future C2 architectures, the next you may be helping define a work breakdown structure, support a bid, review risks or guide a team through a technical decision.
You do not need to know every tool, protocol or architecture listed above. What matters is that you bring strong systems thinking, technical credibility, curiosity, leadership and the ability to turn complexity into direction.
Why join Collins Aerospace?
At Collins Aerospace, you will be part of a global engineering organisation working on some of the most challenging and meaningful problems in aerospace and defense.
You will join a team where systems engineering is not just documentation. It is the bridge between customer need, mission reality, technology choice and successful delivery.
This is an opportunity to influence future capability, work with advanced technologies and help shape systems that connect and protect the world.
What We Offer
49. Competitive Compensation Package
50. 25 days Annual Leave + Public Holidays + option to buy / sell up to 5 days per year
51. Generous Employer Contribution Pension Scheme with 2:1 matched contributions up to 10%
52. Private Medical Insurance
53. Health & Wellbeing Cash Plan - (dental/optical/therapy/chiropody/health screening)
54. Life Assurance & Group Income protection scheme participation
55. Professional Development & Growth
56. Support with professional fees
57. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
58. Employee Discounts & Flexible Benefits Platform
59. Employee Recognition & Referral Bonuses
60. and much more!
If you are an experienced Systems Engineer, Systems Architect or technical leader with a background in communications, networking, mission systems or Command and Control, we would welcome your application.
Bring your systems thinking, your technical judgement and your ability to make sense of complexity.
Help us shape the next generation of connected mission systems at Collins Aerospace, an RTX business.