Test Systems Group Leader

Job Title: Test Systems Group Leader

Job Location: Rochester, Kent. Onsite

Salary: Up to £70,000 depending on experience and skills

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow – shaping a safer future, for all of us.

What you’ll be doing:

Developing purpose-fit processes for engineering excellence. Your insights will lead to streamlined operations, enhanced craftsmanship, and vendors, raising the bar in tool improvement. Providing valuable input into our systems and software engineering strategies, you’ll help us optimize cost, schedule, and quality, ensuring that best practices are integrated seamlessly. Inspiring both teams and the larger enterprise to embrace innovative paradigms, to bridge disciplines and influence a culture of excellence. Nurturing and developing people, helping to develop the team and driving a workforce, enhancing skills and taking on new tasks. Ensuring correct implementation and use of resources, including the recruitment of experienced engineers, undergraduate placement students and graduates. Playing a key role in our estimating and development strategies to support our Technical Bid Review Process.

Core Duties:

• Managing large teams or teams of teams through test system lifecycles
• Demonstrable leadership skills, in order to drive growth
• Ability to engage and negotiate with stakeholders, being able to deliver information at all levels and influence decision making.
• Technical engineering background with a relevant qualification or experience
• Ideally experience with Test Equipment in domains of Avionic Systems, Mission Systems, Safety Critical Control Systems, or Real-time Embedded/Display Systems will add valuable insight to our teams.

The Engineering team:

You will provide functional support to the engineering managers and engineering teams within Test Systems, having a vital role in continuous improvement, enhancing processes, inspiring teams and driving efficiency in one of the world’s leading defence, security and aerospace companies. You will play a key part in managing Test Systems teams enabling the development and supply of products across a diverse mix of commercial and military platforms; Head Up and Head Worn Displays, Safety Critical Pilot Control and Flight Control Systems. This will give you a direct influence on leading process innovation, propelling excellence, and leading teams, whilst driving a culture of creativity and collaboration.

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.

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: 24th March 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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