Marlborough Communications Limited
Principal Technical Specialist
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PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL SPECIALIST
Marlborough Communications Limited
Marlborough Communications Limited (MCL) is a supplier of advanced electronic communications, information systems and signals intelligence technology to the Defence and security sectors. We combine a global network of specialist technology providers with in-house design, engineering and integration capability to deliver and support a diverse portfolio of communications and intelligence capabilities.
Description
MCL is seeking to appoint an experienced Principal Technical Specialist with a strong technical background to support the Technical Director to deliver pre-contract and post-contract technical inputs and technical excellence. The ideal candidate should already have experience as an established senior engineer, preferably in a small or medium-sized company and/or similar business model to MCL, with excellent technical writing and communication.
This role is writing and delivery heavy, where you will personally produce and/or lead the production of bid, tender and company opportunity artefacts such as requirement responses, system descriptions, compliance matrices, and supporting technical documentation and evidence, often to tight deadlines and with minimal direction or supervision.
MCL is a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) with a broad, fast-moving workload. Success requires frequent context switching, comfort working outside your core speciality, and the ability to shape incomplete/ambiguous asks into high-quality outputs without waiting for perfect inputs (while still knowing when to dive deep vs stay at assurance/system level).
Working location:
This role requires regular face-to-face engagement with MCL’s Business Development and Engineering teams. Candidates must be able to attend the Redhill, Surrey office routinely and reliably as part of normal working. Working pattern is hybrid (office and remote), with strong office presence to be effective in the role (3/4 days minimum per week). This is essential to support a collaborative role that requiring day-to-day engagement with Business Development (BD), Engineering, and the Technical Director.
Key responsibilities:
You will support the Technical Director with intellectual leadership, governance, momentum, and delivery across MCL’s core technical areas, including:
- Working with the Technical Director to develop technical solutions in response to market and product development in the defence and security markets.
- Working with Business Development to generate technical tender submission documents (functional and non-functional responses for varying complex systems).
- Producing tender artefacts including system architecture descriptions, compliance matrices, and supporting technical documentation, with strong ability to manage multiple concurrent bids and balancing workload accordingly.
- Ensuring the delivery of technical documentation in response to requirements from the Project Management Office throughout the delivery and in-service support of contracts.
- To support the Technical Director in their responsibilities for product legislative, regulatory, safety, and policy compliance.
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Within the first 90 days, you will typically be expected to:
- Take ownership of defined bid/tender/opportunity workstreams in conjunction with BD team, and reliably produce tangible artefacts (e.g., requirement responses, compliance tables, system descriptions and technical documents) with minimal direction.
- Operate effectively across multiple concurrent topics and technical disciplines, switching context as needed while maintaining quality and pace.
- Integrate into the BD and engineering teams through regular office engagement, becoming a technical go-to for supporting, producing and shaping customer-facing technical outputs and emerging opportunities across our capability areas.
Essential requirements:
Applicants must demonstrate experience and evidence of the following:
- SME compatible delivery style and flexibility, able to operate in a broad, fast-moving environment involving context switching, progress under ambiguity, and comfort working outside a single narrow speciality (able to learn and adapt existing knowledge).
- Technical authoring and ability to support bids, including excellent technical writing and authoring skills with demonstrable experience producing (not just contributing to) bid/tender documentation such as technical proposals, requirement responses, compliance documentation/matrices, procedures, reports, and system documentation, often to tight deadlines and with minimal direction. Candidates should be expected to showcase evidence of this during interview.
- Technical breadth relevant to MCL capability areas, including a strong engineering / technical background with the ability to engage credibly across multiple areas (e.g., electrical/mechanical principles, power solutions, radio communications, software/embedded systems) and apply these in defence contexts.
- Defence environment exposure with experience of the UK defence technical environment, including understanding of defence standards, policies, regulations and related technical governance (e.g., safety and environmental management systems, functional safety, UK EMC regulations, and relevant aviation regulatory context).
- Practical permanent location and ability to attend our site in Redhill routinely and reliably as part of normal working (see working location above).
- Technically proficient academically, including a strong technical background with a degree-level technical qualification and preferably professionally registered with the UK Engineering Council.
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Desirable / advantageous:
The following are beneficial, but not mandatory if the essentials above are strong:
- Strong technical domain expertise in one or more of: Radiofrequency (RF) technologies & concepts, EW/SIGINT, unmanned platforms, and embedded systems, whilst still being able to operate in a broad role supporting bid, compliance and development activities across multiple technical areas.
- Exposure to CAA context and Military Aviation Authority (MAA) DAOS policies/procedures for military platforms and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
- Previous experience in an SME or similar business model to MCL.
- Previous military / defence experience is beneficial, but not essential.
Personal attributes:
The job holder must be able to:
- Resolve fundamental and complex technical issues with employees, customers, regulators and suppliers.
- Interface at all levels internally and externally, and remain reliable, proactive, detail-oriented and professional in a defence and security environment.
- Work independently and collaboratively.
- Adapt rapidly to changing requirements.
- Apply strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
- Operate with integrity.
Security and travel (mandatory for role):
- The successful candidate will be required to undertake relevant enhanced security checks, which MCL will fund.
- Require a UK Passport.
- Require a full UK driving licence (Category B).
- Must be able to freely travel, with occasional overnight stays (primarily UK).
Role conditions and benefits:
- Working hours 37.5 hours / week over 5 days.
- Working location hybrid remote and office based at Redhill, Surrey (see above).
- Bonus: the company operates a discretionary performance related bonus scheme.
- Pension: contributory with the company matching contributions up to 5%.
- Health Insurance: included.
- Dental cover: included.
- Holiday: 25 days plus statutory bank holidays.
- Highly competitive and dependent on experience, qualifications, and competence for the role.
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