Lockheed Martin
Lead System Engineer (Space)
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Lead Systems Engineer – Space
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK
Salary: £93,000 - £116,000 + Competitive Benefits + Bonus Hours: 37.5 hours per week + Option for 4-day work week
About Lockheed Martin
By bringing together passionate innovators, Lockheed Martin keeps people safe and tackles the world’s most complex challenges. Here, our employees are at the center of everything—fueling career growth, flexible schedules, competitive pay, and an environment that enhances both personal and professional lives.
Lockheed Martin’s commitment includes:
- Fostering innovation, integrity, and corporate responsibility.
- Empowering employees to deliver world-changing solutions.
- Supporting technological and economic growth via strategic investments.
Lockheed Martin Space
Lockheed Martin Space is integral to Lockheed Martin’s International growth strategy, specializing in:
- Building sophisticated satellites for diverse missions.
- Developing ground station command & control software.
- Advancing AI, space exploration, and strategic collaborations with UK universities.
The division ensures reliable delivery of current requirements while anticipating future demands in the space domain—a critical enabler for national security, technology, and economic resilience.
This Opportunity
Join our team delivering next-generation secure military communications satellites for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). This work ensures high-performance connectivity for defence forces worldwide, safeguarding national security in an era of increasing space competition.
By joining Lockheed Martin, you’ll actively contribute to:
- A £100 million+ investment in the North East’s space sector.
- Advanced manufacturing and high-skill jobs in County Durham.
- Collaborations with NESST (North East Space Skills & Technology Centre) at Northumbria University, shaping talent pipeline development for long-term regional growth.
This role offers unparalleled impact: ✔ Mission-critical technology development. ✔ Career growth and skill enhancement in cutting-edge fields. ✔ Tangible contributions to national security and economic resilience.
The Role: Lead Systems Engineer, Integration & Test (SEIT)
We seek an experienced Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) Leader to drive the development and delivery of complex satellite and ground system programmes in the UK.
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This high-impact technical leadership position is responsible for:
- Guiding systems engineering, integration, verification, and validation activities across the full programme lifecycle.
- Working closely with senior leadership, customers, suppliers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Balancing technical excellence, schedule deadlines, and business objectives to ensure programme success.
The SEIT lead will:
- Direct a UK-based SEIT team.
- Play a pivotal role in complex space system development.
Key Responsibilities
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Systems Engineering Leadership
- Lead and coordinate satellite and ground system integration and test efforts:
- Manage and refine system requirements baselines.
- Develop and execute integration, verification, and validation (IV&V) plans.
- Establish and maintain system integration and test strategies, including documentation.
- Oversee architecture modelling, including technical artefacts and design documentation.
- Lead and coordinate satellite and ground system integration and test efforts:
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Technical Excellence & Governance
- Define and track Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) and programme metrics.
- Head technical reviews, readiness reviews, and engineering governance.
- Facilitate coordination among cross-functional teams, suppliers, and partners to resolve technical issues and mitigate risks.
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Collaborative Programme Support
- Work tightly with Program Manager, Chief Engineer, and Integrated Product Team (IPT) leads.
- Foster continuous improvement in SEIT processes and practices.
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People Development & Mentorship
- Develop and mentor engineers across the SEIT function.
Required Skills, Qualifications & Experience
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Education
- Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
- Or equivalent industry experience.
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Technical Expertise
- Proven space or satellite systems experience, with a focus on systems engineering, integration, and testing.
- Hands-on experience in satellite system-level integration and testing (including cleanroom laboratory environments).
- Strong understanding of GEO satellite systems and associated spacecraft architecture.
- Expertise in environmental verification testing processes and execution.
- Familiarity with Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) plans, procedures, and documentation development.
- Strong requirements management knowledge (verification planning, requirements sell-off).
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Standards & Methodologies
- Knowledge of industry standards (ECSS, NASA, MIL-STD, etc.).
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Leadership & Communication
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
- Exceptional communication skills:
- Ability to simplify technical complexities for audiences with varying expertise.
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Security Requirements
- Must meet UK Security Clearance (SC) eligibility.
- UK or NATO citizenship essential.
Desirable Experience
- Experience self-managing systems engineering teams throughout a full programme lifecycle.
- Proficiency in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
- Knowledge of spacecraft payloads, subsystem technologies, and ground systems.
- Experience with sub-software integration, interface definition, and system-level testing.
- Understanding of configuration management, design control, and change management.
- Risk and opportunity management within complex development programmes.
- Preference for candidates with fixed-price contract delivery experience.
- Experience holding programme management or IPT leadership positions.
- Delivered satellite communications or mission-critical space systems.
LMPeople Qualifications & Experience
Matching professional experience, qualifications, and specialized training in alignment with the role.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Lockheed Martin marijuana a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion ensure that...
“The diversity and backgrounds of our employees enriches our innovation, delivering superior solutions and maximum value'.”
Lockheed Martin, inclusive and welcoming, accommodations reasonable for job application and interviews. Request adaptations contact recruitment@global.lmco.com or call +44 (0)2392 415270.
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