Systems Engineer

Location: Portsmouth, UK
Contract: 6‑month contract (Inside IR35) with strong likelihood of extension
Pay Rate: £55 per hour Umbrella
Clearance: SC Clearance - British Eyes Only (No Dual or Foreign Nationals due to project sensitivity)

About the Role

Our client - an established defence and space organisation - is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to support advanced Military Satellite Communications (Milsatcom) programmes. You will contribute to the definition of system architecture across space, control, and ground segments for major UK defence initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to work on next‑generation satcom capabilities alongside engineering leads, architects, and partner organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Capture and define system requirements, ensuring complete traceability and verification.
• Support Verification, Validation and Test (VV&T) activities.
• Develop ground system architectural definitions and conduct technical trade‑offs.
• Collaborate with engineering leads and industry partners within integrated working groups.
• Provide technical input to proposals and internal or customer reviews.
• Offer technical guidance to bidding teams.
• Contribute to planning, scheduling, and cost‑estimation activities.
• Communicate progress and resolve technical issues with stakeholders.

About You

• Degree or equivalent in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• Experience in designing, integrating, and deploying end‑to‑end digital telecommunications systems (Milsatcom experience desirable).
• Knowledge and experience of Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE); Enterprise Architect beneficial.
• Understanding of satellite platforms, payloads, mission control, and network control.
• Strong presentation and written communication skills.
• Confident engaging with customers, partners, and internal engineering teams.

Additional Information

• Standard working week: 37 hours, Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm (flexible within business needs).
• Occasional UK travel may be required.
• This position supports current and future workload and may transition into a longer‑term assignment.

How to Apply

If you have experience in Systems Engineering, Milsatcom, or mission‑critical communications and want to contribute to high‑priority national defence programmes, please submit your CV and one of our consultants will be in contact in due course.