Company: Ultra Intelligence & Communications

Cyber (UK) Business

Powering Decision

Join the team redefining defense technology. From engineering systems that save lives to leading programs that change the battlefield—find your place in the future of defense.

Cyber Business

Our Cyber business unit is at the forefront of pioneering advanced cryptographic and key management solutions, facilitating the confidential exchange of vital information for customers operating at both tactical and strategic echelons. Join our team and participate in the innovation that ensures the highest security and trust worldwide.

Job Description

The Project/Systems Engineering function in Ultra provides expertise to all projects through the bid and full development lifecycle. It ensures that both project and statutory requirements are suitably met and works to improve the effectiveness of the systems engineering approach within the company. It is responsible for the system requirements, the resulting architecture, the design and integration of the solution. It is responsible for ensuring we design to cost and design for manufacture.

A professional at this grade applies technical / professional knowledge, making reasoned independent judgements based on practice and significant previous experience. Often seen as a referral point or more senior team member, to escalate more complex challenges and opportunities. This role is expected to act independently with minimal guidance, and may mentor project managers/early careers.

To be responsible for and assure the implementation of Integration, Verification, Validation and Qualification, across the Systems Engineering life cycle, for projects within Ultra Cyber. IVVQ is a fundamental part of, and supports, the Systems Engineering approach, where IVVQ is to both assure (add quality & value) and then ensure, with the production the verification and validation products, to support stakeholder acceptance.

Responsible for / Key responsibilities

Responsible for assuring the Systems Engineering (in-process verification and validation) and delivery of conclusive evidence via System Integration, Verification and Validation (IV&V) processes and activities.
Ensure the correctness and completeness of work products and solutions, from the requirements phase onwards, executing an evidence creation strategy in order to progressively gain internal and external acceptance.
Create and maintain IV&V artefacts such as Strategies, Plans, Procedures, Compliance Matrices and Reports, to progressively assure the desired outcomes.
Carry out IV&V responsibilities in accordance with IV&V processes and industry practices, so that internal, qualification and acceptance events are completed to an agreed level of maturity.
Lead the cross-discipline development of any supporting test equipment/rigs/fixtures, via a lifecycle approach; creating requirements, support the design, development, testing of and maintenance, enabling the associated development and in-service test events.
Responsible for all safety and security aspects relating to IV&V events and facilities used by the project.
Actively participates, and is a key stakeholder, at engineering design reviews and project gates/reviews, owning the preparation, delivery and resulting actions of TRR.
To support the Qualification activities, to include in house and external test houses.
Responsible for the utilisation of any external IV&V facilities/test houses, i.e. organising interoperability testing, collaboratively developing test harnesses/fixtures etc. with test houses.
Actively contributes to improving processes, tools and techniques that to increase the adoption, quality and efficiency of SE, IV&V engineering.
Provides specialist knowledge and support to the wider engineering team.
Exemplifies, leads, mentors and coaches IV&V to engineers and non-technical resources; sharing knowledge willingly and constructively to aid consistent application of IV&V principles, processes and methods.
Manage security of information as defined in the Security Aspects and Government regulations.
The role is expected to provide Line Management, Technical Management or Subject Matter Expert responsibilities:
- Line management of a team of systems engineers (2-6), responsible for their development, training and approval of the team’s requests (e.g. annual leave etc.).
- Technical management of a team of systems discipline engineers (1-5) on a project, their tasking and being responsible for the quality of their technical delivery and adherence to schedule and budget.
- Subject Matter Expertise, and recognised as an expert in a specific subject matter, such as a specific product/technology/tooling/practice type or area.

Essential Qualifications / skills /requirements

Has extant/recent SC security clearance
Is flexible to travel within the UK to support external stakeholders, test houses and customers.
Willing and able to obtain, and maintain, DV security clearance
Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or have applicable defence industry experience.
Knowledge of Systems Engineering/V&V experience of solutions formed of Hardware, Software and Firmware components.
Has designed and delivered special to type test equipment to meet the diverse requirements generated across multi-concurrent projects.
Safety and security management for test environments including laboratories, able to build a business case to ensure that test environments are suitably available, safe & secure.
Demonstrable experience of INCOSE/ISO 15288 Systems Engineering of complex solutions and delivered IV&V in accordance with ISO 29119.

Desirable Responsibilities

To be familiar with environmental facilities and their operation under the guidance of environmental test team
Assesses tasks to define Basis of Estimate costing for bid and change processes.
Actively reviews professional publications; champions Systems Engineering/IV&V industry standards; active member and promotes related professional organisations.
Experienced in the implementation of test facilities/equipment in relation to ISO 17025.

Desirable Qualifications / skills /requirements

INCOSE member – ASEP/CSEP
IV&V/Test related certification/recognition.
Experienced in test automation, frameworks and marriage with manual testing for an overall test campaign.
Environmental, EMC, EMI, TEMPEST etc design for and/or test experience
Modelling to understand test scope, test environment requirements and/or to validate.
Scripting languages: JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Perl, Bash, Rest, MySQL.
Development approaches, iterative, incremental, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Behaviour Driven Development (BDD), Acceptance Test Driven Development (ATDD), hybrid and similar models.

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Notice

Due to the nature of the programs we deliver for our customers, candidates may need to obtain the relevant security clearance or handle export-controlled material as defined by the role's requirements. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance for the role. Due to the nature of our work, you must be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. For more information, please visit the UKSV website.

Our Benefits

Every employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:

Participation in an Annual Bonus Scheme
Private Medical Cover
25 days’ holiday (plus Bank Holidays) with the option to buy an extra 5 days
Pension Contribution
4 x Life Assurance Cover
Flexible working hours with opportunity for a 1pm finish on a Friday
Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, will writing and more
Security Clearance Allowance – where relevant and subject to you holding the required security clearance

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

At Ultra I&C, we are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusivity. Underpinned by our values, behaviours, and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be the best version of yourself. We also believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures will increase our diversity of thinking, ensuring we successfully deliver to our customers. We, therefore, do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also support requests for flexible working arrangements wherever possible. If you have any issues with your application, please email us at [email protected]

About the company

Ultra Intelligence & Communications delivers integrated defense systems for mission-critical operations, focusing on secure command, control, and communications for military and defense clients. Its products include secure networks, C2 systems, cybersecurity protections, and electronic warfare capabilities that combine hardware, software, and services to operate in harsh environments. The company stands out by offering end-to-end, mission-focused systems tailored for government and defense contractors, with long-term development, deployment, and support contracts that integrate multiple capabilities into a single platform. Its goal is to provide trusted, observable, and resilient information and control to sustain mission success and force protection.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Austin, Texas

Founded

1993

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Canadian Armed Forces trials in March 2026 expand Archer into Arctic and Europe.
Marine Corps and Hidden Level demos in February 2026 show live operator demand.
Booz Allen's August 2026 closing expands distribution across FMS and outcomes-based procurement.

What critics are saying

Booz Allen completed the $720 million acquisition on August 24, 2026, ending independence.
Integration can trim overlapping roles across Ultra Mission Solutions and Booz Allen by 2027.
Defense-contract dependence concentrates revenue; one program slip hits operations immediately.

What makes Ultra Intelligence and Communications unique

Archer troposcatter delivers secure BLOS links without satellites in contested environments.
Ultra fuses Rain, Knox, and encryption into integrated edge command-and-control stacks.
Its systems won U.S. Army 2025 and Canadian Armed Forces 2026 trials.

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Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Vacation
Flexible Work Hours
Annual Bonus
Private Medical Cover
Pension Contribution
4 x Life Assurance Cover

Company News

The New Arab

Oct 19th, 2026

UK defence bosses' homes targeted by pro-Palestinian group.

UK defence bosses' homes targeted by pro-Palestinian group. UK police are investigating vandalism claims by pro-Palestinian group The List targeting homes linked to Leonardo, Ultra and Keysight executives. 19 October, 2026 Police Scotland confirmed officers were called on 11 October to a "report of vandalism to a property and cars" in Dunfermline [getty] UK police said they were probing vandalism incidents after a pro-Palestinian group appeared to claim attacks on properties belonging to executives and employees at defence industry firms. The group, called "The List", claimed on a website to have carried out three attacks in recent weeks, including one on the home of someone they said was a "key engineer" at defence contractor Leonardo. "We are aware of an incident which targeted the property of a Leonardo employee last weekend," a company spokesperson said in a statement sent to AFP on Monday. "We are also assisting Counter Terrorism Police with their ongoing investigation into this incident," they added. Police Scotland confirmed officers were called on 11 October to a "report of vandalism to a property and cars" in Dunfermline, north of Edinburgh, where Leonardo has a site. A video on the group's website appears to show someone tagging vehicles and a building wall with red paint. The Sunday Times reported that The List had targeted three locations, including in Hampshire in southern England, where they reportedly slashed the tyres of a car belonging to an executive at Ultra Intelligence & Communications. The List claimed on its website that it targeted Ultra's chief operating officer, whom it accused of working with Israeli arms company Elbit. "We were called on Saturday, October 10, to a report of a criminal damage incident in Fleet," Hampshire police said in a statement quoted by the Times. "It was reported that red paint had been thrown across the front of the house and two car tyres had been damaged," the police force added. The group also said it targeted the home of Keysight's director of technology manufacturing. The Palestine Action group was proscribed as a "terrorist" organisation by the UK government last year after a series of attacks targeting defence companies, including Elbit and Leonardo. On its website, The List said it "escalated our actions against the home addresses of some of the most highly complicit companies in the ongoing genocide of our brothers and sisters in Palestine." "Our list of complicit actors remains long, compiled through leaks, hacking and whistleblowers. If you work with Elbit, expect us," the group added.

Air Cargo Week

Mar 23rd, 2026

Airbus strengthens cyber capabilities with Ultra Cyber acquisition.

Airbus strengthens cyber capabilities with Ultra Cyber acquisition. * Airbus has entered into a definitive agreement with the Cobham Ultra group, a portfolio company of Advent, for the acquisition of Ultra Cyber Ltd. This strategic move reinforces Airbus' position as a trusted, sovereign partner for the UK and a key supplier to its allies, while strengthening its presence in the European cybersecurity landscape. * The acquisition allows Airbus to enhance its end-to-end cyber portfolio, complementing the existing UK sovereign capabilities of its cyber business based in Newport, Wales. With more than 200 employees in Ultra Cyber Ltd, primarily based in its state-of-the-art cyber centre of excellence in Maidenhead, Airbus is reinforcing its commitment to the UK as a core home nation of Airbus and its active role in maintaining the UK's digital security. This acquisition will join the growing Cyber activities within Airbus Defence and Space's Connected Intelligence business unit and creates a scale UK sovereign cyber champion. This investment is a cornerstone of Airbus' strategy to become a leading European multi-sovereign cyber player and a key pillar of a European digital shield. This approach helps ensure that nations across the continent, as well as Five-Eyes and NATO partners, can rely on access to best-in-class technologies that are trusted and endorsed by the governments of the group's home nations. This move follows the successful acquisition of infodas in 2024, which strengthened Airbus' cybersecurity leadership in Germany and the EU for cross-domain solutions. Today, Airbus operates a truly pan-European cyber activity with employees across the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Finland. The acquisition also includes a specialised airborne datalinks capability that complements Airbus' military aircraft portfolio. This addition helps strengthen Airbus' ability to protect sensitive data seamlessly across both ground and airborne environments. "This acquisition testifies to our long-term commitment to the UK as a core home market," said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. "By joining our expertise with Ultra Cyber's unique capabilities, we are acting as a long-term, trusted partner to the UK Ministry of Defence. We are building the resilient, sovereign infrastructure required to help keep the UK and its allies ahead in the cyber domain." Shonnel Malani, Managing Partner at Advent and Chair of the Board at Ultra Electronics, said: "During what has been a time of major geopolitical tension and uncertainty, we are proud that the investments made in Ultra Cyber, under Advent's ownership, have supported efforts to help protect the country and its allies from electronic warfare, and contributed to strengthening the UK's sovereign capabilities." Juliette Wilcox CMG, President of Ultra I&C UK Cyber, added: "This agreement marks an exciting next chapter for Ultra Cyber and a major step forward for the UK's sovereign cyber capability. Together, we will combine complementary strengths to help accelerate innovation, deepen R&D, and expand delivery of advanced cyber solutions in the UK and internationally." Closing of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected in the second half of 2026. Anastasiya Simsek is an award-winning journalist with a background in air cargo, news, medicine, and lifestyle reporting. For exclusive insights or to share your news, contact Anastasiya at [email protected]. * | | * | | * | | * | | / | / Maastricht speeds up flower cargo handling across europe. Air serbia to join freightos booking platform.

PR Newswire

Mar 18th, 2026

Ultra I&C selected to provide Archer troposcatter technology for operational trial with Canadian Armed Forces.

Ultra I&C selected to provide Archer troposcatter technology for operational trial with Canadian Armed Forces. Mar 18, 2026, 09:00 ET MONTREAL, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Ultra I&C will provide its Archer(TM) troposcatter system for operational trials to support Canadian Armed Forces missions in the Arctic and Europe by extending secure beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications resulting in increased readiness in one of the planet's most unforgiving environments where satellites struggle and traditional infrastructure doesn't exist. The deployment of the Archer system supports the newly released Canadian Defense Industrial Strategy focused on strengthening sovereign capability, Arctic readiness, and enhanced contribution to Allied defence. The contract covers Archer systems that dramatically reduce size, weight, power, and cost compared to legacy troposcatter equipment while maintaining advanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities. The deployment will support operational experimentation and capability validation, delivering high-throughput beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity without depending on satellites or ground infrastructure "Arctic operations demand communications that work when everything else fails," said Faith Rhodes, vice president of programs at Ultra I&C. "Archer extends network reach into remote environments where connectivity means the difference between mission success and isolation. We've taken troposcatter technology - which has been around for decades - and engineered it for 21st century warfare that is expeditionary, resilient, and deployable in under 15 minutes." Archer features a next-generation graphical user interface that automates set-up and auto-alignment, enabling operators to establish connectivity in minutes without specialized training or dedicated experts on-site. The common GUI is shared across Ultra I&C platforms, giving forces a consistent, intuitive experience that simplifies training and accelerates adoption across the portfolio. Each system is built for contested environment operations, giving commanders additional network redundancy exactly where they need it most. Archer was selected by the U.S. Army in June 2025, and other Allied militaries since, to enhance network resiliency by adding an additional form of secure communications in contested environments at extended ranges. About Ultra I&C Ultra I&C is powering decision speed across the multidomain battlespace with resilient tactical communications, mission optimization and encryption technologies. We secure, move, and make sense of data across all domains - delivering real-time, mission-ready intelligence that gives operators at the edge the clarity to act and the speed to win. For decades, global defense forces and allied partners have relied on Ultra I&C to outpace threats and cut through complexity on the battlefield. With more than 700 employees across the global enterprise, we deliver battle-proven technology purpose-built for decision advantage in contested, high-threat environments. For more information, visit https://www.ultra-ic.com. SOURCE Ultra I&C

Yahoo Finance

Mar 18th, 2026

Canadian Armed Forces to trial Ultra I&C's Archer troposcatter system for Arctic and European missions

Ultra I&C will provide its Archer troposcatter system to the Canadian Armed Forces for operational trials in the Arctic and Europe. The deployment supports Canada's Defense Industrial Strategy, focusing on sovereign capability and Arctic readiness in environments where satellites and traditional infrastructure are unreliable. The Archer system delivers secure beyond-line-of-sight communications whilst reducing size, weight, power and cost compared to legacy equipment. It features advanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities, with deployment possible in under 15 minutes using automated set-up and alignment requiring minimal training. The system was previously selected by the US Army in June 2025 to enhance network resiliency in contested environments. Archer enables high-throughput connectivity without depending on satellites or ground infrastructure, providing critical network redundancy for remote military operations.

Vannevar Labs

Feb 18th, 2026

Art of the Edge: Building New Capabilities for MCTSSA

Art of the Edge: building new capabilities for MCTSSA. In February 2026, Vannevar joined a composite team to successfully demonstrate a live "Art of the Edge" integrated capability for senior Marine Corps leadership. The demo was the product of a focused five-week sprint across a coalition of partners, built around a simple goal: move at operational speed against real mission problems, and prove Vannevar Labs, Inc. can integrate in ways that matter at the tactical edge. Vannevar Labs, Inc. is proud to have been part of this collaboration, and grateful to the team that turned a concept into a working, integrated capability in a short window. Vannevar Labs, Inc. partnered with Ultra, leveraging a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), whose mission includes technical support, interoperability certification, testing, integration, and life-cycle support for C4I systems. Interoperability as the force multiplier. The value of "Art of the Edge" is not just that systems can talk to each other. It is what becomes possible when they do. In the words of Thomas "TJ" Johnson at MCTSSA: "We are providing commanders at the tactical edge with the context needed to understand the environment in real-time. This 'Art of the Edge' architecture provides a vision into the broader range of response options and the flexibility to act with precision in complex, contested environments." "We are providing commanders at the tactical edge with the context needed to understand the environment in real-time." - Thomas "TJ" Johnson, MCTSSA Senior Principal Engineer for Combined and Joint Interoperability Vannevar's role in the integrated capability was to enrich battle tracks with mission-specific data and reasoning agents, helping convert raw signals into decision-ready outputs inside Ultra's platform. When you're moving fast with many mission partners, interoperability is the force multiplier. The WEST demo aimed to prove that these capabilities are not a standalone vignette but a modular architecture where each parter contributes distinct strengths to extend the core system. In practice, that means commanders at the tactical edge get more than "what" they are seeing. They get better visibility into the "so what" and "now what" even in complex, contested environments. The demo received strong positive feedback during the AFCEA West conference, resonating with senior leadership including the Commanding General of Marine Corps Systems Command. It surfaced a clear demand signal: that integrated, interoperable, mission-ready systems are available to the warfighter today, rather than a future aspiration.not a future aspiration. There is pull to make this real and repeatable. What comes next. Momentum matters most right after a demo, when interest is fresh and partners are aligned. The team is already tracking down opportunities to deploy this partnered solution in upcoming Marine Corps and joint exercises alongside MCTSSA. Vannevar Labs, Inc. also have clear internal takeaways on how to further enhance the performance of its agents for specific mission outcomes in operational environments. Thank you to MCTSSA, the AFCEA venue, and its mission partners for making this collaboration possible. You can lear more about the Department of the Navy's Technology Transfer Program here.

Ultra Intelligence and Communications

Principal Systems Engineer IVV

About the job