Senior System Architect – Payload

Job Title: Senior System Architect – Payload

Location: Portsmouth (Broad Oak) Filton, Dorchester, hybrid – 3 days on site – this role will require routine travel to other southern BAE sites within UK and occasionally internationally.

Salary: Up to £89, 520 dependent on experience

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

What you’ll be doing:

As a Senior Mission System Architect (Payload), you will lead the design, integration and assurance of maritime mission system payloads, including sensors, effectors, ISR and autonomous capabilities. You will define modular, vendor-agnostic architectures that enable payloads to operate effectively across complex force-level environments. Working closely with customers, suppliers and programme teams, you will ensure solutions are interoperable, resilient and optimised for maritime operations. Your expertise will help shape future payload strategies, influence architectural direction and support the delivery of next-generation mission capabilities for domestic and export programmes.

Core duties:

Lead architecture for sensors, effectors, ISR and mission payloads.

Define payload integration standards, interfaces and design principles.

Ensure interoperability across platforms, mission systems and off-board assets.

Embed safety, survivability and assurance within payload architectures.

Champion open, modular and scalable payload solutions.

Influence stakeholders on payload strategy and integration approaches.

Essential skills:

A degree in Engineering (or a related subject)

Full membership of an appropriate engineering institution and be a Chartered Engineer (or actively working towards).

Extensive experience in maritime payload integration and system-of-systems architecture.

Deep knowledge of defence sensors, effectors, ISR and mission systems.

Combat System Engineering Team:

Within the dynamic and rapidly expanding Naval Ships Combat Systems business, you will form part of a highly skilled team of system architects charged with shaping the future of maritime mission systems. Working across domestic and international programmes alongside enterprise partners, in bringing to bear your specialist expertise, you will ensure that candidate solutions are innovative, future-force-ready, operationally relevant and coherent with customer and business needs.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 14th October 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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