Principal Engineer - System

About the role

We are looking for a Systems Engineer with at least five years of experience to support the specification, development, integration and testing of tactical datalink system solutions. The role involves working on national, international or coalition projects, including bespoke designs and NATO‑standard solutions such as Link‑16, and contributing across the full systems‑engineering lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Message Standards protocols team and design large‑scale C4I and tactical datalink solutions.
• Develop Message Standards protocols for C4I systems, covering information exchange and user‑experience requirements.
• Design interoperability across standards and interfaces (Link‑16, MIP, VMF, FFT, ADATP‑3, etc.) and analyse data‑transfer protocols.
• Support the systems‑engineering lifecycle from concept through integration, verification, validation and delivery, including requirements analysis, traceability and decomposition.
• Contribute to system architecture for C2, tactical communications or integrated mission systems and participate in design reviews, technical assessments and trade studies.
• Coordinate with software, hardware, network, cybersecurity and test engineering teams; maintain engineering documentation (SS/SSS, IRS/ICDs, integration plans, test procedures/reports); and assist with risk identification and stakeholder engagement.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum five years of experience in systems engineering for tactical datalink or C4I solutions.
• Proven experience with national, international or coalition projects and familiarity with NATO standards such as Link‑16.
• Ability to work in highly regulated, mission‑critical environments with a structured engineering approach.

Required skills

• C4I
• Tactical Datalink
• Link‑16
• Message Standards protocols
• Systems engineering
• Requirements analysis
• Architecture development
• Integration planning
• Test procedures
• Risk identification