UK Space Jobs
Lead Systems Engineer – Space
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
About the Role
Be part of a team delivering the next generation of secure military communications satellites for the UK Ministry of Defence. This work provides resilient, high-performance connectivity for the UK, its allies, and Defence personnel worldwide, playing a critical role in protecting national security as space becomes more contested and demand for secure data continues to grow.
Joining Lockheed Martin also means helping to shape significant investment in the North East space sector, with more than £100 million proposed to support high-skill jobs, advanced manufacturing, and long-term economic growth. Opportunities include potential satellite manufacturing in County Durham and collaboration with NESST – the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre at Northumbria University – helping to build a strong pipeline of talent, learning, and innovation.
This is your chance to work on mission-critical technology, develop cutting-edge skills, and build a meaningful career while delivering lasting impact for the region and the nation.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) leader to support the development and delivery of advanced satellite and ground systems programmes in the UK.
This is a high-impact technical leadership role responsible for guiding systems engineering, integration, verification, and validation activities across the full programme lifecycle — from architecture and development through integration, test, and delivery.
You will work closely with senior leadership, customers, suppliers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure successful programme execution while balancing technical, schedule, and business priorities.
The role requires strong systems engineering expertise, programme leadership capability, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and executive stakeholders.
The successful candidate will lead the UK-based SEIT team and play a key role in the delivery of complex space systems and mission capabilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate systems engineering, integration, and test activities across satellite and ground system development programmes, including:
- Managing and evolving the system requirements baseline throughout the programme lifecycle
- Leading system integration, verification, and validation planning and execution
- Developing and maintaining system integration and test strategies, plans, and procedures
- Maintaining system architecture models, technical artefacts, and design documentation
- Defining and tracking Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) and programme technical metrics
- Leading technical reviews, readiness reviews, and engineering governance activities
- Coordinating cross-functional engineering teams, suppliers, and partners to resolve technical issues and delivery risks
- Supporting programme execution in partnership with the Program Manager, Chief Engineer, and IPT leads
- Driving continuous improvement in systems engineering and integration processes
- Mentoring and developing engineers across the SEIT function
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Required skills, qualifications, and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent industry experience
- Significant experience in systems engineering, integration, and test within the space or satellite industry
- Proven hands-on experience in satellite system-level integration and testing within cleanroom and laboratory environments
- Strong understanding of GEO satellite systems and spacecraft architectures
- Experience with environmental verification testing processes and campaign execution
- Experience developing Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) plans, procedures, and test documentation
- Strong requirements management experience, including verification planning and requirements sell-off
- Familiarity with industry standards including ECSS, NASA, and MIL-STD
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
- Active or current UK Security Clearance (SC) eligibility required; UK or NATO citizenship essential.
Desirable
- Experience leading Systems Engineering teams across full development programme lifecycles
- Experience implementing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches on complex programmes
- Knowledge of spacecraft payloads, subsystem technologies, and associated ground systems
- Experience with software integration, interface definition, and system-level testing
- Strong understanding of configuration management, baseline control, and change management processes
- Experience in risk and opportunity management within complex development programmes
- Fixed-price contract delivery experience
- Programme management or Integrated Product Team (IPT) leadership experience
- Experience delivering satellite communications or mission-critical space systems
- Recognised subject matter expertise in Systems Engineering processes and governance
Job Reference Number
18868BR
Salary Range
£93,000 - £116,000 Plus Competitive Benefits + Bonus
Employee Type
Full Time
Hours Per Week
37.5
Working Schedule
4xFlex
Country
United Kingdom (UK)
Clearance Required for Role
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
SC
Graduate, Intern or Apprentice Vacancy?
No
What we offer you
At Lockheed Martin our employees come first, and therefore your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing matters to us. On top of working in a highly supportive, friendly, respectful environment, you can expect so much more.
We are an employer in support of and offering Flexible working with the option to also work a 4-day week depending on business requirements, where you have the option of Fridays off. We offer Competitive salaries alongside a flexible holiday entitlement.
We have a wealth of benefits available to you that can be selected through our wellbeing tool upon commencement of employment. Just a few of our amazing benefits are shown below:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Competitive Pension
- Dental
- Critical Illness
- Life Assurance
- Travel Insurance
- Employee discounts for top high street shops
- Employee Assistance Program which includes free face-to-face counseling sessions, Legal advice, Financial advice, etc
- Internal training and development alongside our Education assistance programmes
- Reimbursement for a professional membership
- Competitive policies that support flexibility and family leave inclusive of enhanced maternity leave
Business Environment
By bringing together people that use their passion for purposeful innovation, at Lockheed Martin we keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work. With our employees as our priority, we provide career opportunities designed to propel development and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. At Lockheed Martin, we place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering innovation, integrity, and exemplifying the embodiment of corporate responsibility.
Lockheed Martin Space is one of the four major business areas within Lockheed Martin. LMUK Space is at the forefront of Lockheed Martin’s International growth strategy including building exquisite satellites for a broad array of missions, ground station mission planning, and command & control software products deployed to a diverse customer base as well as key capabilities in AI and space exploration and all underpinned by key strategic collaborations with universities in the UK. We not only deliver on current requirements, Lockheed Martin is always focused on the future requirements of this exciting and growing space domain which is a key enabler to our daily lives and future safety and security.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills