The client is seeking to appoint a Head of Systems Engineering to establish and lead the systems engineering function across the business. This newly created role will provide ownership of systems architecture, requirements management, verification and validation, reliability engineering, and technical governance across the product portfolio, applying a systems-led approach from customer requirements and architecture definition through testing, launch, and ongoing support.
The Head of Systems Engineering will operate across software, electronics, and mechanical engineering disciplines, ensuring products are developed through coherent systems engineering practices. Key responsibilities include leading and developing the systems engineering capability; defining and governing product and system architectures; owning requirements management, verification and validation activities; improving reliability engineering, root cause analysis, and product performance; introducing scalable systems engineering processes and governance frameworks; supporting the effective use of outsourced engineering and development partners; and acting as a technical authority across multidisciplinary engineering programmes.
Suitable candidates will be hands-on systems engineering leaders who enjoy solving complex technical challenges while building capability and creating structure in a growing engineering organisation. The role is expected to align with experience leading systems engineering across the full product lifecycle, a strong technical background across software, electronics, or mechanical engineering (with the ability to work across all three), and a track record delivering complex products to market. Additional strengths include expertise in systems architecture, requirements management, and verification and validation; demonstrated capability in improving reliability and engineering governance; experience building teams and influencing stakeholders; and the ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery, particularly within an SME or mid-sized engineering environment.