Senior Mission System Architect – Autonomy

Job Title\: Senior Mission System Architect – Autonomy

Location\: Portsmouth (Broad Oak) or Frimley, Filton, Dorchester, hybrid - 3 days on site - this role will require routine travel to other southern BAE sites within UK and occasionally internationally.

Referral Scheme\: £1000

Grade\: GG13

You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your line manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.

We know there may be exceptional individual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your line manager.

If you don’t feel you can talk to your line manager, you can contact your HRBP.

PLEASE NOTE\: Should you be invited for interview; you acknowledge that the Recruitment team will contact you and your line manager regarding your application for this opportunity.

What you’ll be doing\:

As a Senior Mission System Architect – Autonomy, you will provide technical leadership in the architecture, design, integration and assurance of mission-critical command and control systems and hosting infrastructure for future maritime platforms. You will define architectural strategies that enable Hybrid Navy capabilities, ensuring solutions are modular, secure, resilient, interoperable and scalable across multiple domains and coalition environments. Working closely with customers, programmes, suppliers and industry partners, you will influence strategic direction, champion modern digital technologies and open architectures, and deliver robust disaggregated mission system solutions that support operational effectiveness, future growth and export opportunities.

Core duties\:

• Lead architecture strategy for autonomous mission systems and capabilities.
• Integrate AI, ML and control algorithms into operational solutions.
• Develop safety, assurance and validation approaches for autonomous systems.
• Define human-autonomy teaming concepts and operational behaviours.
• Champion interoperability, scalability and system-of-systems integration.
• Influence customers, partners and programmes on autonomy roadmaps.

Essential skills\:

• A degree in Engineering (or a related subject)
• Full membership of an appropriate engineering institution and be a Chartered Engineer (or actively working towards).
• Extensive experience in autonomy, system-of-systems architecture or complex defence integration.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML, autonomous systems assurance and digital engineering..

Combat System Engineering Team\:

Within the dynamic and rapidly expanding Naval Ships Combat Systems business, you will form part of a highly skilled team of system architects charged with shaping the future of maritime mission systems. Working across domestic and international programmes alongside enterprise partners, in bringing to bear your specialist expertise, you will ensure that candidate solutions are innovative, future-force-ready, operationally relevant and coherent with customer and business needs.

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.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer.

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\: 22nd September 2026, interviews for this role will take place w/c 12th October