Head - System Engineering

We are looking for an experienced systems engineering leader to head our Systems Engineering function for UAV/UAS platform development. In this senior leadership role, you will build and lead a high-performing team of systems engineers, owning end-to-end system architecture, requirements management, and verification & validation across our unmanned aerial platforms — including hybrid VTOL/fixed-wing systems. You will be the technical authority bridging mechanical, electrical, propulsion, avionics, software, and payload sub-disciplines, ensuring the platform is engineered as a coherent, certifiable, and mission-ready system, while partnering closely with program management, manufacturing, quality, and customers to deliver robust, field-proven products.

Key responsibilities:

• Establish, lead, and continuously mature the Systems Engineering function — defining processes, tools, and governance for requirements management, system architecture, interface control, and verification & validation (V&V) across the UAV product portfolio.2

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of systems engineers across requirements, architecture, integration, and test disciplines, fostering technical depth, accountability, and career growth.

• Own system-level architecture and trade studies for hybrid VTOL/fixed-wing UAV platforms — balancing payload, endurance, propulsion, structural, and mission performance requirements.

• Drive requirements engineering and traceability from customer/stakeholder needs (GSQR/SRS) through system, subsystem, and component-level specifications, ensuring full bidirectional traceability.

• Lead integration and verification & validation planning across propulsion, avionics, GNC/flight controls, EMI/EMC, structures, and payload subsystems, ensuring compliance to applicable standards (MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, ARP4754A, STANAG, DO-160 where applicable).

• Own technical risk management at the system level — identifying, assessing, and tracking design and integration risks, and driving mitigation through design reviews and test campaigns.

• Chair and govern technical design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and serve as the senior technical interface with program management, quality, certification bodies (CEMILAC/DGQA), and customers.

• Partner with PMO, manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement to ensure system designs are manufacturable, testable, and aligned with program schedules and cost targets.

• Drive root-cause analysis and design improvements from flight test, field deployment, and reliability/endurance data, closing the loop into the engineering baseline.

• Lead make-vs-buy and vendor technical evaluations for critical subsystems (propulsion, avionics, payload, navigation) and manage technical relationships with external partners and consultants.

• Drive systems engineering tooling and infrastructure investments (requirements management, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), configuration management, simulation platforms).

Skills