Our client, a leading defence technology company, is seeking an experienced Systems Engineering Lead to join their team in Buckinghamshire on an initial 6-month contract. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring full lifecycle systems engineering experience, ideally within complex defence domains such as RF systems, Electronic Warfare (EW), or Defence Communications. Key responsibilities include: * Lead systems engineering activities across the full lifecycle: requirements capture, design, development, integration, verification, validation, and acceptance. * Work closely with multi-disciplinary engineering teams to deliver high-integrity defence solutions. * Define and manage system architectures, interfaces, and design documentation. * Engage with stakeholders, customers, and suppliers to ensure requirements are well understood and satisfied. * Support the preparation of bids, proposals, and technical documentation. * Ensure rigorous configuration management and compliance with relevant standards. * Lead system-level integration and testing activities, supporting test planning, execution, and reporting. Required Skills & Experience: * Proven experience delivering end-to-end systems engineering within a defence, RF, Electronic Warfare, or Communications environment. * Proficient in IBM DOORS for requirements management. * Strong knowledge of systems engineering best practices and standards (e.g., ISO 15288, ARP4754). * Experience in systems architecture, interface definition, and design documentation. * Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is desirable. * Comfortable working in a classified, safety-critical, or secure environment. * Excellent stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and communication skills. Role will require candidates to be eligible for SC clearance. The role will require the successful candidate to be onsite circa 4 days per week. Role is inside IR35 paying circa £75 per hour