Flexa
Discover companiesFind a jobResourcesSign in/up
For employers
< Back to search
BAE Systems

Head of Strategic Engineering & Systems Architectures

Salary:  Up to £103,000 per annum
Location:  Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Location flexibility:  3 office days / week – Hybrid options are dependant on role and can range from fully remote to on-site full time
Hey there, we’re really sorry but this job is no longer available. Please take a look at our other roles, and check back again soon as we’re adding new roles all the time!

BAE Systems

Senior Mission System Architect – C2 & Infrastructure

£89,520 per annum

Multiple Locations (UK)

BAE Systems

Senior Mission System Architect – Network & Data Communications

From £89,520 per annum

Portsmouth | Frimley | Filton | Dorchester (UK)

BAE Systems

Senior Mission System Architect – Platform Interface

Up to £89,520 per annum

Multiple Locations (UK)

BAE Systems

Senior Mission System Architect – Payload

Up to £89,520 per annum

Multiple Locations (UK)

BAE Systems

Senior Mission System Architect – Autonomy

From £89,520 per annum

Portsmouth | Frimley | Filton | Dorchester (UK)

Job Description

Job Title: Head of Strategic Engineering & Systems Architectures

Location: Portsmouth (Broad Oak) ,hybrid – 3 days on site

Salary: Up to £103,000 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 Head of Strategic Engineering and Architectures, you will deliver technical, engineering and architectural leadership across BAE Systems maritime mission systems portfolio. As a driver of our engineering response to the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy strategy, you will define and lead the enterprise architecture vision, ensuring solutions are product-coherent, future-ready, operationally relevant, and align with customer and business needs Working closely with customers, programmes and industry partners, you will champion innovation, shape technology roadmaps and deliver modular, scalable force-enabled mission system architectures that support future naval capability and secure export success.

Core duties:

  • Define and lead enterprise mission system architectures and candidate design solutions across maritime platforms and programmes.
  • Oversee integration of combat, sensor, communications, platform and autonomous system capabilities.
  • Provide strategic technical authority, governance and assurance for architectural decisions and reviews.
Apply
Flex spring

Join the mailing list

Get the latest insights and expert guidance on job hunting, career progression, and creating thriving workplaces.

Enter your email
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Info for employers
  • Join Flexa
  • Legal
  • Live feed
  • Resources
  • Sign in/up
  • The Flexa awards
Flexa
  • Drive innovation in open architectures, digital engineering, AI, autonomy, and emerging technologies.
  • Influence customers, partners and suppliers to align strategic architectural direction.
  • Lead and develop multidisciplinary architecture and systems engineering teams, periodically deputising for the Chief Engineer

    • Essential skills:

    • A degree in Engineering (or a related subject) or relevant field experience. Full membership of an Engineering Council accredited institution and be a Chartered Engineer.
    • An accomplished engineering leader with a deep understanding of the defence operational context and extensive experience in system-of-systems & data architectures, model-based frameworks, digital engineering and complex systems integration.
    • Strong collaborating and influencing skills to build positive, effective and trusted relationships across all engineering disciplines with customers, partners, suppliers and the wider business.

    Combat System Engineering Leadership Team

    Within the dynamic and diverse Naval Ships Combat Systems business you’ll lead a highly skilled team of architects, systems engineers and integration specialists shaping the future of maritime mission systems as we rise to the very real global threat. You will work across all programmes (Royal Navy and international), functions and with external partners, to deliver innovative, cross-domain mission-critical solutions that exceed customer expectations and drive engineering excellence across the BAE Systems enterprise.

    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: 18thSeptember 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.

    #LI-AP1

    #LI-hybrid

    #combatsystems

    Working at BAE Systems

    3 office days / week – Hybrid options are dependant on role and can range from fully remote to on-site full time

    A little flex time – We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements depending on the role you apply for – explore your options with our recruiter during the application process.

    Company employees:

    Around 110,000

    Hiring in countries

    Australia

    Malaysia

    Poland

    Qatar

    Singapore

    United Kingdom

    Office Locations

    Company benefits

    Adoption leave
    Annual bonus
    Buy or sell annual leave
    Collaboration spaces
    Cycle to work scheme
    Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
    Employee discounts
    Enhanced maternity leave – 26 weeks paid, up to 52 weeks total, with the option of returning to work on reduced hours for the first 13 weeks
    Enhanced paternity leave – 4 weeks for eligible employees
    Enhanced pension match/contribution
    Family health insurance
    Fertility treatment leave
    Gym membership – Discounts available
    Health insurance
    In house training
    Learning license
    Lunch and learns
    Mental health support
    Mental health first aiders
    Mental health platform access
    Modern office
    Neonatal leave
    Open to compressed hours
    Open to job sharing
    Open to part time work for some roles
    Open to part-time employees
    Pregnancy loss leave
    Private booths
    Referral bonus
    Relocation packages
    Reservist leave – 15 days
    Salary sacrifice
    Secure on-site parking
    Share options
    Shared parental leave
    Mentoring

    Awards & Accreditations

    Most loved - Large companies

    Top 5 - Most loved - Large companies

    Flexa awards 2026