Principal Systems Engineer
Spaceflux
Software Engineering
London, UK
GBP 80k-100k / year
Principal Systems Engineer
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
Company: Spaceflux Ltd
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
About Spaceflux
Spaceflux delivers sovereign-grade optical space intelligence through a global network of optical and SWIR-enabled sensors and an AI-powered cloud platform. We provide real-time tracking, characterisation, and analytics from LEO to GEO, supporting government and commercial missions with actionable intelligence in seconds. We also deliver tailored sensor system packages, specialist services, and domain intelligence consultancy.
Role Overview
Reporting to the COO, the Principal Systems Engineer leads Spaceflux’s systems engineering approach across mission-critical products and services, working across Product, R&D, Operations, and delivery teams to turn innovation into robust, secure, and operationally reliable capability.
The role owns the definition and governance of system architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification strategy, assurance, and lifecycle management for sensor networks, edge computing, analytics platforms, and connected services.
Success is measured by robust and traceable architectures, clear and controlled requirements, effective verification and assurance, reduced integration risk, and reliable capabilities that meet customer and operational expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Own systems engineering across the lifecycle of current and future solutions, from concept and requirements through architecture, verification strategy, deployment, and sustainment.
- Provide systems engineering leadership across cross-functional teams, enabling disciplined delivery without constraining innovation.
- Work across Product, R&D, Operations, and delivery teams to align technical development with customer requirements, operational constraints, and delivery outcomes.
- Ensure that software, AI, sensor, and service updates meet required standards for security, reliability, safety, performance, resilience, and assurance.
- Define and maintain system architectures that integrate technical developments into deliverable, supportable, and operationally resilient solutions.
- Establish and apply proportionate systems engineering practices, standards, and governance aligned to recognised frameworks such as ISO/IEC 15288.
- Lead requirements management, traceability, interface control, verification strategy, configuration control, and technical risk management across critical internal and customer-facing deliveries.
- Support bids, technical sales, and customer engagements with authoritative systems engineering input and full-lifecycle solution architectures.
- Act as Project Engineer where necessary to ensure key deliveries are achieved.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles and their practical application in complex, mission-critical, or operationally critical environments.
- Experience leading systems engineering activities across cross-functional teams in a matrix organisation.
- Track record of working on cyber-physical, data-intensive, high-assurance, or mission-critical systems, including AI/ML-enabled systems where applicable.
- Expertise in requirements management, system architecture, interface control, verification strategy, configuration control, and lifecycle governance for complex system development.
- Experience of matrix organisation project delivery
- Ability to work effectively across Product, R&D, Operations, Commercial, and delivery teams.
- Experience contributing to bids, solution development, customer engagements, or technical sales.
- Degree or equivalent experience in systems engineering, aerospace, computer science, software, electronics, physics, or a related technical discipline.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Background in space domain awareness, defence, intelligence, orbital surveillance, remote sensing, optical sensing, or satellite systems.
- Postgraduate qualification or professional certification in AI, data science, systems engineering, INCOSE, assurance, or a related field.
- Experience with secure IoT, distributed sensing, edge systems, cyber-physical networks, connected operational services, or recognised systems engineering frameworks such as ISO/IEC 15288.
- Project Engineer role experience
- Holds, or is eligible to obtain, UK Security Clearance at SC level or above
Other Requirements
- Able to commute to London on an agreed basis, anticipated to be weekly, with occasional additional travel for project or customer needs.
- Able to travel within the UK and internationally to customer and partner sites as reasonably required.
- Able to maintain access to a reliable broadband connection.
Salary Range
£80-100k + benefits
How to Apply
Please submit your CV along with a cover letter explaining your interest in the role and relevant experience. We welcome applications from candidates with non-traditional backgrounds who can demonstrate the required technical capabilities.
Spaceflux Ltd is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.