Systems Engineer - Payloads

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

Job Description – Zephyr Payloads Systems Engineer

A vacancy for a Payloads Systems Engineer has arisen within Airbus Defence & Space in Farnborough. The successful applicant will join TEUZ Zephyr Engineering Team.

The successful candidate will need to be eligible to gain UK SC Security Clearance to undertake the role.

As part of the continuing development of Airbus’ Zephyr RPAS solution, an opportunity has arisen for a Payloads Systems Engineer to join the team. Working as part of the Zephyr Engineering team, contributing to the ongoing performance improvements of the world record breaking Zephyr Platform, and exploiting its capability to deliver customer solutions.

This position is focused on the development and integration of new and existing Payloads to maximise the capabilities of our product available to our customers, taking advantage of persistent yet ‘taskable’ flight operations in the stratosphere.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Lead multi-disciplinary teams in delivering the subsystem solutions;
• Manage and effectively communicate the Payloads development roadmap and communicate with wider Engineering community
• Manage new and existing suppliers/stakeholders
• Make decisions with a balanced view of all stakeholder requirements, ensuring projects are run efficiently and profitably while delivering robust technical solutions on time to meet demanding schedules;
• Manage technical risk within projects through early involvement in project design reviews, early commencement of mitigation activities, managing requirements creep and clear definition of the technical scope of projects from their outset;
• Define appropriate implementation and proportionate application of the project product assurance plan to the project.
• Active participation in flight trials

This role will involve some travel for business and as such you must be able to travel accordingly.

Qualifications and/or Skills

Essential skills and knowledge include: -

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of technologies relevant to stratospheric Payloads including structures, thermal design, RF/optical datalinks, communication architectures and networks;
• Ability to understand the overall Zephyr architectural solution with an intimate understanding of how Payloads impact the overall product;
• Able to rapidly perform system level trade-offs and access sub-system options in terms of system performance, capability, reliability and implementation within the project schedule and to the necessary quality level;
• Able to effectively perform system and sub-system technical reviews and chair meetings;
• Ability to communicate and explain requirements to sub-system managers and to define and explain acceptance test criteria;
• Ability to review acceptance test data and results in the context of assessing compliance with requirements, airworthiness criteria or more succinctly, fundamental assessment of whether a system or sub-system is fit for purpose;
• Knowledge of manufacturing techniques and materials, structural component test methods, qualification and acceptance test criteria;
• Knowledge of electronic/software/embedded system design, delivery process and acceptance test and qualification criteria;
• Awareness of other related subsystems such as power generation system, power storage system, propulsion, Ground Station systems;
• Understanding of the Zephyr environment - stratospheric, tropospheric, ground and seasonal variations and variations due to locations.

Previous Experience

• Has effectively delivered a new sub-system through a complete design cycle;
• Has a track record of system delivery in accordance with the regulatory and quality requirements.
• Experience of establishing and working within formal organisational approval schemes would be beneficial (including Part 21)
• Has previous experience of operating UAS would be beneficial

Personal Qualities and Behavioural Requirements

• Self-motivated, proactive, team-oriented and willing to take on challenges.
• Able to constructively influence colleagues, suppliers and customers.
• Planning own work and prioritise tasks in line with project needs.
• Focus on delivering to time, cost and quality.
• Safety conscious approach to own work and that of others.

In return we can offer a competitive remuneration package; an ever growing list of company benefits including enhanced pay for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave and strong career development options across our transnational, market leading company.

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

Please let us know if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with the Recruitment Business Partner who gets in touch if you are invited to interview. Examples of this may include (but is not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.