Chief Engineer

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.

The Chief Engineer is a highly experienced engineer with in-depth experience of the full project lifecycle and the associated governance requirements. The Chief Engineer provides oversight for multiple large, complex and multi-disciplinary projects, within Ultra Cyber, ranging from tens of £k to several £m. Responsibilities include assurance of project adherence to both functional and non-functional requirements (e.g. safety, conformance, quality), and oversight to ensure high quality design that is developed in accordance with the required security aspects.

Key Responsibilities 

• Business Development
  • Maintain visibility of upcoming bids and opportunities
  • Work with BD to build proposal and costings
  • Review technical proposals for deliverability
  • Contribute towards the alignment of Ultra Cyber Business Strategy, the underpinning Technical Strategy and the engineering plan to deliver it, articulating the shared understanding of the constraints

• Technical Governance of Bids
  • At bid stage, agree an appropriate engineering design process for a proposed project and ensure that it is appropriately documented, consulting with the relevant Heads of Discipline
  • Ensure compliance with relevant and contractual, international, national and local regulations/legislation is considered when bidding
  • Support BD gate review process to ensure all engineering considerations, risks, and opportunities have been considered.
  • Assure estimates for bids, providing sign-off against deliverability

• Technical Governance of Projects
  • During project delivery, assure that agreed engineering design process is followed
  • Ensure analysis completed regarding relevant and contractual, international, national and local regulations/legislation and requirements are included as appropriate on projects
  • Chair Engineering Design Reviews, acting as Gate Keeper to ensure progression only with well understood and acceptable levels of technical risk and technical debt
  • Oversee management of technical risks
  • Review project engineering metrics, supporting the project team in preparation and delivery of Technical Project Reviews
  • Assure projects and products meet the required performance and quality
  • Accountable for Project Engineering Change Control
  • Review project engineering documentation, setting the bar for quality of design documentation
  • Approve technical documents for release, according to the DCRAM (Document Configuration Review and Approval Matrix)
  • Provide Design Assurance, acting as signatory on DDP (Declaration of Design Performance), Technical File and Safety Checklist as required
  • Customer/stakeholder point of contact for Engineering aspects.
  • Provides sounding board for projects (security, process, technical issues…)
  • Resolve/facilitate resolution of engineering conflict on project
  • Escalate issues through Engineering chain
  • Responsible for progressing security concerns
  • Security Adviser to the project to:
    • assure adherence to the Security Aspects Letter (SAL)
    • provide guidance on the appropriateness of the SAL
  • Provide Safety assurance through governance of the engineering development process
  • Act as Authority interface

A Chief Engineer is also expected to provide wider Engineering impact through:

• Mentoring of senior engineers
• Working with BD & Innovation to provide input to technical strategy
• Capturing project/project knowledge from Lessons Learnt (formal or informal) and inputting into SQEP plans

A Chief Engineer may also act as an Independent Chief Engineer on a project, to provide independent oversight, primarily chairing gate reviews but also providing a sounding board for the project Chief Engineer.

A Chief Engineer may also act as a Design Authority on a project, if they have appropriate domain and technical knowledge.

Required Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Confident communicator, both written and verbal
• Highly organised, self-managing, able to manage multiple activities at any one time
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage effectively with all audiences/stakeholders at all levels in the organisation
• Degree in an engineering, mathematical or science-based subject or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in one (or more preferably), software, firmware, hardware or systems engineering.
• Expert knowledge of the V-model, and good/best practice engineering process.
• Extensive experience in technical leadership and managing delivery of multi-disciplined engineering projects.

Security Clearance

• Candidates must be willing and able to obtain, and maintain, DV security clearance  

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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]