Systems Engineering Manager

Description

CMS2, a specialist in advanced manufacturing and critical maritime systems, is seeking a Systems Engineering Manager to drive complex systems delivery across the full life-cycle.

As a Systems Engineering Manager, you will lead a team through the technical development and management of complex engineering systems across their full life-cycle, including requirements, analysis, integration, verification, validation, and compliance. You will also act as a senior technical authority within a multidisciplinary team, ensuring stakeholder requirements are translated into structured, deliverable solutions.

Department: Systems Engineering

Location: Portsmouth

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a senior technical authority within multidisciplinary teams, guiding systems engineering activities and supporting technical decision-making.
• Lead the development and management of structured requirements and system architectures, ensuring traceability and completeness throughout the life-cycle.
• Define and oversee verification and validation strategies, including the development of test plans, specifications, and execution activities.
• Produce high-quality technical documentation, including system descriptions, models, and engineering artifacts to support product development and new business activities.
• Lead and support design reviews at appropriate life-cycle stages to ensure compliance with requirements and engineering standards.
• Lead systems engineering activities across the full life-cycle, including concept development, detailed design, integration, verification, validation, and in-service support.
• Undertake and guide mathematical modeling, system analysis, and concept design using appropriate tools, models, and diagrams. Perform and lead root-cause analysis, failure-mode analysis, and reliability assessments to improve system performance and robustness.
• Identify technical risks and develop effective mitigation strategies in collaboration with project teams and stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment between engineering outputs, customer requirements, and project deliverables.
• Act as the technical focal point between engineering teams, project management, customers, and suppliers, ensuring clear and effective communication of technical information.
• Lead engagement with stakeholders to analyze customer specifications and translate them into actionable and structured requirements.
• Support business development and bid activities through the creation of compliance matrices, technical responses, and engineering input.
• Work closely with project management teams to support planning, definition of work packages, and estimation of effort required for delivery.
• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, using data and lessons learned to enhance systems engineering processes and performance.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies, tools, and methodologies to improve engineering capability and efficiency.
• Drive improvements in system performance, reliability, and operational effectiveness through structured engineering approaches.
• Ensure compliance with company processes, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead or support safety assessments, risk assessments, design reviews, and technical assurance activities.
• Review and approve engineering documentation—including drawings, specifications, and standards—ensuring quality and consistency.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and support to system engineers, helping to develop capability within the team.
• Promote knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practice systems engineering approaches. Encourage a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the engineering function.
• Carry out any ad-hoc duties as required to support business needs.
• Follow company procedures, standards, and regulatory requirements at all times.
• Maintain continuous professional development to ensure knowledge and skills remain up to date.
• Act as an ambassador for the company in all interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

• Degree, HND, or significant proven experience in an engineering discipline.
• Professional engineering recognition (Chartered Engineer status or working towards, or equivalent experience).
• Strong expertise in systems engineering, including requirements management, system integration, and verification and validation.
• Experience in complex engineering systems and equipment design and integration.
• Demonstrable technical leadership, influencing, and decision-making skills. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft tools, including the ability to manipulate and analyze data within Excel.
• Proven experience in a systems engineering role, typically 5+ years.

Desirable

• Masters Degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineering Status; experience of designing to meet military requirements; experience of model-based systems engineering (MBSE).
• Experience of requirements management software.
• Knowledge of ISO9000 or a similar QA system; experience within a lean manufacturing environment.

Other requirements

Candidates must have an existing right to live and work in the UK.

Candidates must have passed UK security clearance to Security Check level or be able to obtain this level. To gain SC clearance you will normally have had to have been a resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years.

Candidates must be able to obtain a basic security check which will normally require you to have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years.

Benefits

At CMS2, we believe in rewarding our people and supporting their well-being. Alongside our competitive salaries we offer a comprehensive benefits package including Company Profit Share Scheme, generous holiday allowance and pension.