Principal Mission Systems Integration Engineer

Company Description

Navantia UK is a leading provider of innovative naval solutions, specialising in the design, construction, and lifecycle support of naval ships. As part of the global Navantia Group, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge technologies and world-class services across the maritime sector. Based in Bristol, we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Mission Systems Integration Engineer to join our team and play a key role in delivering high-quality naval architecture solutions for naval and complex commercial shipbuilding projects.

Job Description

As the Principal Mission Systems Integration Engineer, you will be responsible for leading the design specification, physical integration, and optimisation of mission systems across naval shipbuilding programmes. You will play a key role in ensuring that mission systems, including Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Cyber and Intelligence (C5I), effectors, sensors, navigation systems, and, where relevant, combat systems, are integrated into the ship design and with other ship systems to ensure cost effective compliance to requirements, standards and operational effectiveness. The successful candidate will need to have extensive experience in mission systems integration, technical leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Operational experience would be of benefit for this role.

You will be involved in integrating both traditional mission systems (C5I including effectors, sensors navigation combat systems) as well as emerging technologies, such as autonomous systems, digital systems, and understanding of potential and current applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, you will need product security knowledge to ensure that mission systems meet the required cybersecurity standards and protect against potential threats.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies and complex shipbuilding programmes, undertaking cost / capability trade-offs, supplier engagement and specification, ensuring seamless integration of mission systems into the ship design. You will be instrumental in delivering solutions that meet operational requirements while ensuring compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the specification and integration of mission systems (including C5I, effectors, sensors, navigation systems, and combat systems) into ship designs, defining interface boundaries between systems and sub-systems and ensuring integration requirements with the ship and other ship systems are defined.
• Manage the specification and platform integration of autonomous systems, digital systems, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring they work seamlessly within the overall ship systems architecture.
• Ensure that mission systems adhere to product security requirements, applying cybersecurity requirements to safeguard mission systems from potential security threats.
• Work closely with mission system suppliers, ship design teams, and stakeholders to ensure the successful integration and optimization of mission systems within the overall ship design.
• Lead the preparation of integration plans, defining processes and requirements to ensure successful mission systems integration and performance validation.
• Develop interface specifications and integration requirements for mission systems, ensuring they are aligned with the overall ship systems design and mission capabilities.
• Define the strategy for testing and validation of mission systems, ensuring all systems meet operational performance standards and adhere to safety, regulatory, and security requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance, ensuring high standards of quality and performance across all activities.
• Develop strategies for the optimization and continuous improvement of mission systems integration, ensuring alignment with evolving mission needs, technological advancements, and security considerations.
• Collaborate with naval architects, systems engineers, and other disciplines to ensure the seamless integration of mission systems with all other ship systems.
• Provide subject matter expertise on mission systems architecture, ensuring all systems work in harmony and meet operational requirements.
• Stay updated on the developing world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on mission systems, ensuring the integration of intelligent, adaptive technologies into mission operations.
• Ensure that product security requirements are specified appropriately.
• Define the requirements for configuration management of mission systems, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to performance specifications.
• Manage risks associated with the integration of mission systems, identifying issues early in the design process and developing effective mitigation strategies.
• Ensure all specifications and proposed solutions meet safety standards and comply with relevant military and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the development of arrangements for topsides, mission systems compartment layouts, firing arcs etc ensuring operational effectiveness and safety. Contribute to development of the ships General Arrangement ensuring mission systems spatial requirements are captured and optimised for mission effectiveness.
• Develop strategies and define requirements to minimise or eliminate crew from future ship designs.
• Define requirements and support the integration of modular systems into the ship design.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance on mission systems integration processes, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience:

• A degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (Masters or equivalent is desirable), alternative experience will be considered.
• Significant experience in the specification and integration requirements of mission systems for naval platforms, with a strong understanding of weapon systems, sensors, navigation systems, communications, and mission systems available in the market.
• Operational experience would be a significant benefit for this role to ensure ship designs are optimised for operational effectiveness, minimising or eliminating crew.
• Ability to communicate with senior Navy stakeholders.
• Proven expertise in mission systems integration, including the ability to specify requirements for successful physical and functional integration achieving safe and operable solutions.
• Strong knowledge of mission systems architecture and how to integrate disparate systems into a cohesive and functional whole.
• Experience with autonomous systems, digital systems, and an awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) developments and their impact on modern mission systems would be of significant benefit for this role
• Product security knowledge, ideally with experience applying cybersecurity best practices to mission systems to prevent, detect, and respond to security vulnerabilities.
• An understanding of systems engineering processes and how they apply to mission systems integration, to ensure successful outcomes.
• Understanding of interface specifications, system testing, and validation procedures for mission systems.
• Familiarity with military and regulatory standards applicable to mission systems on naval and commercial ship designs.
• Strong project management skills, with experience delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the required technical standards.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, manage relationships with stakeholders, and provide leadership in complex programmes.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to address complex technical challenges in mission systems integration.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines, while maintaining high standards of quality.
• Leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to guide and mentor teams of engineers in the integration of complex systems.

Additional Information

Equal Opportunity: We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. To ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, we commit to a fair and unbiased recruitment process at every stage. This includes ensuring hiring managers are aware of legislation, providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, and actively seeking to eliminate any form of discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Our goal is to create a recruitment environment where every candidate feels valued and has an equal chance to succeed.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at [email protected] and one of the team will be in contact to help you.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at [email protected] and one of the team will be in contact to help you.