Defence System Engineer

Role

We are hiring a Systems Engineer to design and develop AI-powered systems for defence intelligence workflows. The role focuses on building secure, auditable, and resilient software and data pipelines that operate in cloud-hosted and air-gapped environments, integrating AI with user-facing applications and supporting accreditation and operational use.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to system and architecture design for AI systems supporting intelligence workflows, including data pipelines, model integration layers, and back-end applications.
• Develop and maintain software components using Python, producing clean, well-tested, and maintainable code.
• Work with data scientists to integrate AI into production applications, ensuring outputs are robust, explainable, and fit for military decision-making.
• Participate in requirements analysis with MoD stakeholders and translate operational needs into technical specifications.
• Build systems that operate in cloud and air-gapped (disconnected) environments and package applications for edge deployment.
• Write and maintain automated tests and participate in code reviews, design discussions, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
• Produce technical documentation (architecture diagrams, interface specs, security-relevant design decisions) to support accreditation.
• Curate, validate, and prepare datasets for model training and evaluation with attention to data quality, provenance, and classification compliance.
• Apply AI-assisted development practices, including vibe coding, while critically reviewing AI-generated outputs before they enter production.
• Engage with military end users and MoD programme staff to gather feedback and validate systems against operational requirements.

Requirements

• Degree or equivalent practical experience in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, AI/ML, or a related discipline.
• Strong Python programming skills with experience producing clean, testable code.
• Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals: version control (Git), testing practices, design patterns, and code review.
• Systems thinking and experience with systems-of-systems design.
• Analytical mindset with rigorous attention to detail and the ability to decompose complex problems.
• Genuine interest in UK Defence, National Security, or intelligence analysis; prior defence experience not required.
• Ability to travel to UK customer locations when required (limited, with notice).
• Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC); willingness for Developed Vetting (DV) desirable.
• Right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Location & Clearance

This is an in-person role in the United Kingdom. Candidates must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC) and ideally willing to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) for higher classification programmes.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: £24,420.00 - £49,600.20 per year
• Benefits: company pension, on-site gym

Working Pattern

Full-time, permanent, in-person role. Work involves collaboration with internal teams and MoD end users and occasional travel to customer sites in the UK.