Senior Systems Engineer — Defence Infrastructure

Help shape infrastructure that protects the UK’s future.

At AtkinsRéalis, we help our clients solve some of the UK’s most complex and nationally important defence and commercial infrastructure programmes.

Our success comes from the diversity, expertise and passion of our people, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

Join us and you'll become part of a collaborative and inclusive team that values fresh perspectives, technical excellence and continuous development.

These are projects where systems thinking really matters — bringing together facilities, people, processes, technology, safety, security, environment and operational needs into solutions that work.

We understand that great engineers need flexibility as well as challenge.

That's why we offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements wherever possible, a strong commitment to wellbeing, and support for career returners looking to re-establish themselves in the profession.

Are you ready to apply your systems engineering expertise to programmes that genuinely matter?

As a Senior Systems Engineer in our Advanced Engineering Delivery & Consultancy practice, you’ll apply your systems engineering experience to major defence and secure infrastructure projects.

You’ll work in collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams, helping clients and delivery partners turn complex requirements into integrated, assured and deliverable outcomes.

You’ll work across the full project lifecycle, applying systems engineering (ISO 15288) within infrastructure delivery models such as the RIBA Plan of Work, while helping align design maturity, requirements, interfaces, assurance evidence and acceptance.

You’ll work with architects, engineers, safety and security specialists, environmental teams, contractors, technical authorities and senior stakeholders to make sure the bigger picture holds together.

You'll be trusted to lead technical work packages, provide direction to multidisciplinary teams, mentor developing engineers and engage confidently with senior client stakeholders.

Whether supporting capability development, system integration or complex engineering transformation programmes, your expertise will help shape solutions that deliver lasting value.

Glasgow will serve as the home AtkinsRéalis office location; however, the role will primarily be delivered from the client’s site, with regular on-site attendance required throughout the working week.

As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will:

• Apply systems engineering across major defence infrastructure programmes, integrating requirements, design, assurance and acceptance.
• Translate systems engineering best practice into infrastructure delivery lifecycles and client frameworks.
• Lead requirements engineering, ensuring needs are captured, traced, verified and managed.
• Identify and manage interfaces across systems, disciplines, facilities, contractors and stakeholders.
• Support technical reviews, design assurance, integration activities and acceptance processes.
• Maintain the technical golden thread from operational need through design, delivery and verification.
• Apply digital engineering and MBSE approaches using tools such as DOORS, Cameo and Sparx EA where appropriate.
• Engage clients, delivery partners and end users, communicating technical issues clearly and supporting informed decisions.

About you

• You’ll bring practical systems engineering experience and the confidence to apply it in complex, multi-disciplinary project environments. You do not need to have spent your whole career in infrastructure — what matters is your ability to bring structure, integration and technical clarity to complex delivery challenges.
• Lead systems engineering within complex defence, infrastructure, nuclear, energy, transport or regulated programmes.
• Manage requirements, interfaces, verification, validation and acceptance activities.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver integrated engineering solutions.
• Apply systems engineering standards and frameworks, including ISO 15288, ISO 29148 and INCOSE guidance.
• Use systems and digital engineering tools such as DOORS, Cameo, Sparx EA and Jama.
• Support design reviews, technical assurance, governance and acceptance processes.
• Communicate complex technical issues effectively to clients, delivery teams and senior stakeholders.
• Hold, or be working towards, professional registration such as CEng, ASEP or CSEP.
• Experience in defence, nuclear, secure infrastructure, Critical National Infrastructure or RIBA-based project delivery would be advantageous — but we are equally interested in people who can bring transferable systems engineering capability from other complex sectors.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.

Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices.

Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization.

We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems.

Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world.

We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance.

If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview.

The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.

If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be.

So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria.

If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives.

We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.