Hays Recruitment - Senior Recruitment Consultant & Above – Systems Engineering (Defence)
Location: Based in Bristol, however you will be covering the UK
Specialism: Systems Engineering – Permanent & Interim
Sector: Defence
About the Role:
We’re appointing an experienced Senior Recruitment Consultant to launch and own a Systems Engineering desk within the Defence sector. This is a new hire role and a strategically important growth area, with strong backing at board level.
As demand for complex defence programmes continues to increase, clients are looking for specialist recruitment partners who truly understand systems engineering, integration and programme delivery. This role offers the opportunity to build a market-leading defence engineering desk with national reach.
The Market You’ll Cover:
You’ll recruit across key systems engineering and defence delivery roles, including:
* Systems Engineer
* Senior Systems Engineer
* Requirements Engineer
* Systems Architect
* Integration & Test Engineer
* Project Manager
* Programme Manager
These roles span major defence programmes, platforms and integrators across the UK.
What You’ll Be Doing:
* Launching and growing a UK-wide Defence Systems Engineering desk
* Partnering with defence primes, consultancies and supply-chain organisations
* Handling permanent and interim recruitment across engineering and delivery roles
* Building long-term candidate relationships within highly technical skillsets
* Acting as a subject-matter recruitment expert in systems and programme delivery
* Shaping client strategies and positioning Hays as a trusted defence partner
The Opportunity:
* A brand-new desk in a board-backed defence growth area
* Strong market demand and increasing client pull in defence engineering
* Autonomy to define desk structure, client focus and growth strategy
* Long-term opportunity to scale into a wider engineering capability
What We’re Looking For:
* Proven recruitment experience (engineering, defence or technical recruitment preferred)
* Strong understanding of systems engineering, programme delivery or complex engineering environments
* Confidence operating at senior and specialist levels
* Commercial mindset with a proven ability to build desks or markets
* Ambition to play a key role in a high-growth defence division
Why Join us?
* Access to team leadership training for you to evolve your career
* Cutting-edge tools and technology to enable you to make an extraordinary impact
* Generous leave entitlements to take advantage of parental leave, volunteering days, lifestyle and flex leave
* Celebrate success: Culture built on rewarding success with the opportunity to influence your earning potential with uncapped commission in addition to base salary.
* Global career opportunities - make your mark locally or explore international opportunities with Hays
* Thrive in a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels welcome
* Wellbeing rewards: Benefit from health, leisure and lifestyle partnership discounts
* Employee Resource Groups and Working Groups for you to connect and collaborate with like-minded colleagues