U

Ultra

Delivers defense technology for rapid decisions

Principal Systems Engineer

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's
Maidenhead, UK
In PersonAble to travel within the UK; onsite role.
Engineering ManagementEngineering Leadership
UK Citizenship, UK Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics, or suitable Defence/Aerospace industry experience.
  • Significant experience and a full understanding of Systems Engineering, the V lifecycle, development models, and associated processes.
  • Significant experience developing high-quality requirements and establishing a fully compliant systems design.
  • Demonstrable experience implementing the full Systems Engineering lifecycle according to applicable ISO/IEEE/IEC standards.
  • Technical and line-management experience leading a team of systems engineers.
  • Experience writing high-quality technical documentation and formally reviewing such material.
  • Substantial knowledge of Systems Engineering practices, methodologies, processes, techniques, and technology trends.
  • Experience with DOORS, UML, Enterprise Architect, and SysML.
  • Previous hands-on development experience in hardware, software, or firmware, particularly in an embedded environment.
  • Attained SC clearance.
  • Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain DV security clearance.
  • Clean driving licence.
  • British citizenship and UK residence for the preceding 5 years to apply for SC clearance, or 10 years for DV clearance.
Responsibilities
  • Represent the Systems discipline as a senior member or lead Systems Engineer for assigned work packages and tasks, delivering obligations and commitments on time and within budget.
  • Support the Engineering Project Lead in delivering engineering obligations to agreed plans, budgets, and schedules, and undertake delegated leadership responsibilities for assigned Systems work packages and assurance tasks.
  • Own development of technical solutions to large and complex engineering problems, applying Systems Engineering processes to satisfy customer requirements.
  • Develop Systems Engineering artefacts across the product development lifecycle as required to achieve positive project outcomes.
  • Contribute to the design, development, and delivery of Systems Engineering artefacts for one or more projects, ensuring high-quality deliverables.
  • Provide technical direction and influence across project work packages to select optimal approaches, architecture, design, and implementation.
  • Work with system, hardware, firmware, and software architects to ensure consistency, modularity, reuse, and technical excellence.
  • Plan, coordinate, and present internal and external design reviews to senior management and customers.
  • Lead, manage, and report on defined project aspects to balance requirements, schedule, and cost.
  • Manage customers and external suppliers to ensure compliance with agreed processes and achievement of project objectives.
  • Review technical proposals and provide accurate estimates of effort, costs, and risks for bids and proposals.
  • Work with other discipline leads, project management, and engineering project leads to develop proposals that reduce project costs and increase margin.
  • Estimate the time and effort required for Systems activities and deliver to those estimates to maintain cost and schedule adherence.
  • Review and sign off significant technical documents and frequently support or chair technical reviews for significant deliverables.
  • Explain technically complex concepts clearly to less technical or involved parties.
  • Manage information security in accordance with the Security Manual and Government regulations.
  • Support and propose improvements to the Systems discipline to develop its overall capability.
  • Support recruitment, early-career development, and STEM engagement as required.
  • Lead others within and outside Systems to develop awareness and implementation of Systems approaches and practices.
  • Develop subject-matter expertise in a specific practice, tool, product type, or technical area, becoming a recognized company expert.
  • Lead and coach direct reports, help create their development plans, manage execution of those plans, and support continuous improvement.
  • Travel within the UK as required.
Desired Qualifications
  • INCOSE ASEP or CSEP recognition.
  • Experience working as a technical Subject Matter Expert and developing expertise in new areas as required.
  • Knowledge of NCSC security processes and experience delivering associated security artefacts.

About the company

Ultra Group provides advanced defense and security technology solutions, partnering with governments and defense agencies to address mission-critical challenges. Its products collect and deliver the right data to the right people at the right time, helping decision-makers act quickly in high-stakes situations. The company builds and deploys tailored systems that integrate data, analytics, and communications to support rapid, informed decisions, especially against near-peer threats and other technologically advanced adversaries. Unlike competitors, Ultra Group emphasizes ethical, responsible, and sustainable practices and relies on long-term government contracts to deliver customized, mission-focused solutions. Its ultimate goal is to make the world safer by using technology to improve decision speed and accuracy in defense and security operations.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

2018

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • January 26, 2026 NAVSEA awarded Ultra Maritime a $59.6 million countermeasures contract.
  • April 2026 Navy selected Ultra Maritime for AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoy production.
  • August 26, 2026 Germany cleared Lockheed's Ultra acquisition, accelerating transaction closure.

What critics are saying

  • May 1, 2026 SFO DPA imposed £15 million for failure to prevent bribery.
  • March 21, 2026 Ultra sold Cyber to Airbus for £86 million, shrinking the platform.
  • July 6, 2026 Lockheed bought Ultra Maritime for $3.45 billion, risking Ultra's existential breakup.

What makes Ultra unique

  • Ultra Maritime dominates undersea warfare systems with torpedo countermeasures and sonobuoys.
  • Ultra wins long-duration Navy contracts, including MK3/MK4 countermeasures through January 2031.
  • Ultra combines underwater sensing, electronic warfare, and encryption for mission-critical defense customers.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Paid Vacation
  • Professional Development Budget
  • Mental Health Support

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

-5%

1 year growth

-6%

2 year growth

-6%
Turk & Strauss
Mar 19th, 2024
Ultra Electronics Data Breach Investigation

Recently, Ultra Electronics discovered that it had experienced a data breach in which sensitive personal information in its systems may have been accessed and acquired.

Executive Mosaic
Oct 10th, 2023
Ultra I&C Appoints Dawn Ohlson as VP Engineering for Ultra Cyber

Ultra I&C appoints Dawn Ohlson as VP Engineering for Ultra Cyber.

Military Embedded Systems
Sep 14th, 2023
Secure encryption, reduced SWaP in demand from DSEi attendees

To enable such trusted mobility Ultra is also getting close to releasing a new product called MAXAM, that is a rebrand of their existing BID\2510\11.

GovCon Wire
Aug 7th, 2023
Bradford Powell appointed C2I president at Ultra intelligence & communications; Jon Rucker quoted

Bradford Powell, a defense industry veteran, has joined Ultra’s intelligence and communications business as president of the command, control and intelligence segment.

GovCon Wire
Jul 21st, 2023
Clif Basnight joins Ultra I&C as strategic technologies VP

Clif Basnight, a 17-year U.S. Army veteran and former vice president at CACI International (NYSE: CACI), has joined Ultra Intelligence & Communications as VP of strategic technologies.