Integrated RF Sensor SDA

Job Title: Integrated RF Sensor Suite SDA

Location: Cowes – We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Salary: Circa £80k depending on skills and experience

Put yourself into a dynamic role at the forefront of real world demands in the defence industry. The Integrated RF Sensor Suite System Design Authority (SDA) is a key technical leadership role for the development of next generation integrated naval radar defence systems.

Be a contributor to our strategy for modern technology exploitation to counter emerging threats and ensure operational excellence in the development and support of our products.

Your new day-to-day will be exciting and diverse applying the principles of engineering across the entire engineering development lifecycle as you join in developing radar systems used by those who serve and protect us.

What you’ll be doing:

• Assume ownership of the Future Integrated RF Sensor Suite mast and constituent sub-systems

• Understand and architect the development and interoperability of the mast, including integration of multiple complex systems

• Have a good understanding of the interoperability of multiple RF sensors in close proximity, with the ability to integrate a multiple sensor solution in a potentially highly conflicted EM environment

• Provide authoritative technical guidance and leadership to others ensuring system and sub-system solutions are harmonised

• Provide a depth and breadth of expert knowledge gained through substantial work experience to apply the principles and concepts of the ISO 15288 systems engineering lifecycle, and own specialist technical area(s) to resolve issues for complex radar design, systems and processes

• Analyse, define, evaluate, plan, and deliver solutions to meet programme, business, and customer requirements

Your skills and experience:

· Possesses expert-level knowledge in areas such as Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA), Combat Management Systems, complex systems integration, advanced sensor and communication systems, and sensor-effector interoperability

· An understanding of factors that can affect the real-world performance of radar systems and how these can impact accuracy and sensing performance in order to meet challenging design objectives and requirements

· Proven ability to lead development programmes using systems thinking principles, ensuring holistic approaches to resolving complex engineering challenges

· Demonstrated experience in managing and delivering large-scale, complex system designs across multidisciplinary teams

· Highly skilled in presenting intricate technical and non-technical concepts in formal settings, with a strong ability to articulate persuasive and well-reasoned technical arguments

· Broad cross-functional business insight and adaptability, enabling effective performance in dynamic project-driven environments

· Holds a higher education qualification—typically MEng, MSc, or PhD—in a STEM discipline, or equivalent level of expertise

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The team:

This role carries technical and safety responsibility for the Integrated RF Sensor Suite mast and focuses on the high-level integration of complex systems, including software and system-of-systems architecture. The successful candidate will ensure that requirements, design, and implementation are fully aligned across the physical mast structure and all integrated components—such as sensors, communications systems, supporting services, and external interfaces.

BAE Systems’ Radar Sector is advancing next-generation radar and sensor systems, offering the opportunity to work on projects across the engineering lifecycle, supporting both UK and export markets.

In this role, you will be able to enjoy both flexible and hybrid working arrangements.

Our workplace in Cowes is an easily accessible commute from Southampton with a regular foot passenger ferry and BAE shuttle service from the ferry terminal to site.

As the world has evolved, so has the way we work. Our working approach, will enable you to have flexibility with your working hours, depending on your role and location. This could include part time hours, accruing hours as well as flexibility around start and finish times, ensuring you can balance life at work, on site and life at home.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals. We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing date: 9th May 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible