Introduction summary

We are on the lookout for a talented and ambitious Technical Specialist/Lead to join our Security and Defence, Systems and Technology team here in Cambridge, UK.

The role is within the Defence & Security Business Unit that undertakes the development of innovative new products across the entire product life cycle. The role will be primarily technical development for our defence and security clients within UK government, although there will be scope to get involved in a variety of projects for our commercial and wider public sector clients. Projects typically consist of early concept work, through prototype manufacture, to new product introduction, often surmounting considerable technical challenges as we push the boundary of what is possible. We combine highly creative lateral thinking with excellent technical skills and we’re looking for broad defence and security industry experience to help us form powerful development teams.

What we can offer

We can offer you variety, and the chance to work in a dynamic environment buzzing with the excitement of innovation that is having a real effect on people’s lives.

The projects you will be involved in will typically be highly complex, spanning the entire product development lifecycle. You will take responsibility for delivering the technical aspects of a project or workstream, working within multi-disciplinary teams of talented engineers, scientists, and designers in delivering novel products and services to market for a wide variety of clients.

You will always have the support of experienced Programme Managers and Technical Authorities ready to guide you towards more complex projects as your career develops. We believe that a supportive environment is the way to bring the best out of each other. We will actively promote your progression and provide you with the opportunity to take on increasingly challenging tasks.

Your specific responsibilities will vary according to your expertise but are likely to include:

• Working on the detailed, day-to-day, technical implementation of projects across a variety of applications, likely with a significant amount of S&T (Science and Technology) or Research and Development content
• Technical leadership of the delivery of projects that solve complex, multi-disciplinary technical challenges, potentially across multi-office teams
• Capturing technical product requirements and resolving system level discussions, requiring a strong and broad technical background
• Running meetings with clients and other stakeholders, presenting and communicating ideas and concepts to all disciplines, to ensure project success
• Supporting Project Managers to develop project proposals that meet our government clients’ commercial and technical requirements, and Business Developers in building relationships with clients to understand their technical needs. This will be primarily for UK-based government clients

This role will require some domestic UK-based travel but is focussed on working with project teams within the Cambridge office. We have adopted a hybrid working model, with a mix of both home and office working, based on project need: given the nature of our UK government work, you are likely to need to spend the majority of your time in the Cambridge office.

What you can bring

You will have experience of contributing to (and potentially leading the technical aspects of) medium to large sized technical product development projects. 

You will have a degree in engineering, or a relevant scientific discipline such as Electronics, Software, Physics, Chemistry or Sensing systems, with hands-on experience of product or system development within a team. You will have deep technical skills in one or more of: high-speed and/or RF electronics design, embedded software, or FPGA development, with broad background knowledge to draw on to aid contextualising your specialism as part of a wider team. You will be familiar with the basics of Linux systems, networking, and computer security. Naturally you will also have strong time management, written and verbal communication, and organisational skills.

Our UK government work and client base coves a very broad spectrum, so we would also be very interested if you have any of the following:

• UK Government security clearance
• A passion for innovation
• New product introduction / design for manufacture experience
• Previous experience of working at a consulting / fee for service organisation
• A strong desire to deliver outputs for Defence through Science and Technology
• Existing knowledge of best practice in the development of products and systems
• People skills and networks to build strong working relationships across the defence and security innovation ecosystem, including UK MOD, DSTL, Defence Innovation Unit and Innovation Hubs, a range of security customers and Government departments
• Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check, be willing to undertake UK government security clearance and must be a UK passport holder.