Principal / Senior Systems Engineer

Permanent employee, Full-time · Remote, UK

About Us

STARK is bringing its expertise in software-defined unmanned systems to the maritime domain. Traditional fleets alone cannot safeguard this vast, critical space. Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) extend naval reach at lower cost and reduced risk to personnel.

Our maritime family of systems is AI-enabled and built for reliable performance in the harshest seas, delivering NATO a fully integrated hardware–software capability for scalable ISR and strike operations.

Your mission

You will lead system-level integration for next-generation Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV), ensuring all mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems operate as a single, mission-ready platform. As a Principal / Senior Systems Engineer you will define architecture and interfaces, manage integration and verification activities, and drive system validation through sea trials and acceptance testing.

Responsibilities

Serve as the system integration lead for USV product development and upgrades, owning overall platform coherency from concept through delivery.
Work day-to-day within multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, control hardware, software, test) across the full lifecycle of USV design, integration, test and fielding.
Conceptualise and capture system architecture for new platforms and for enhancements to existing platforms, producing technical trade studies, sizing and system performance assessments.
Produce layout and system design plans, define Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and enforce interface control processes for mechanical, electrical and software subsystems.
Establish and maintain requirements baselines and traceability using industry tools (e.g., IBM DOORS) and MBSE approaches.
Lead Verification & Validation (V&V) and acceptance activities: author test plans and procedures for critical subsystems, schedule and run tests, and compile written test reports.
Support bench builds and hardware integration, and conduct hands-on vessel testing (VLOS/BVLOS) including travel to test ranges and customer sites as required.
Act as the technical interface between internal teams, suppliers and customers to coordinate payload integration, unique/custom hardware or software interfaces, and ensure on-time capability delivery.
Perform data analysis to maximise uptime: review test telemetry, identify trends and failure modes, and contribute to predictive maintenance / reliability improvements.
Manage tactical engineering tasks during development sprints and test campaigns, resolving cross-discipline issues and maintaining configuration control.

Qualifications

Degree (or equivalent) in Systems, Maritime, Aerospace, Electrical or a closely related Engineering discipline.
Significant industry experience with demonstrable systems engineering responsibility on USV/maritime or equivalent complex Autonomous systems platforms in aerospace
Strong practical experience integrating complex systems: power systems, RF/EMC, EO sensors, networking, embedded controllers and payload interfaces.
Hands-on build, prototyping and troubleshooting experience with robotic or maritime hardware; comfortable using basic electronics test equipment.
Proven track record in requirements capture, compliance analysis and verification/validation activities; proficient with requirements management tools (IBM DOORS or similar).
Familiarity with MBSE principles, interface control processes and configuration management in regulated environments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; highly organised and detail-oriented.
Ability to operate effectively in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and to travel within the UK/Europe for testing and integration.
A genuine passion for system development, integration and testing and a collaborative, inclusive team approach.
Ideally you will hold a UK Security clearance or be eligible to obtain UK defence clearance and be able to travel to the South West England area 3 days per week

Desirable

Maritime product development experience and familiarity with appropriate standards such as WBC3.
Prior experience leading V&V programmes and authoring safety assurance documentation and risk management artefacts.
Experience integrating complex/custom payloads for partner or customer use (hardware, electrical and software interfaces).
Background in start-up or scale-up environments where rapid prototyping, iterative testing and pragmatic engineering decisions are typical.

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About us

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Due to the nature of our work in the defense sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.

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