Principal Systems Engineer - Mission Systems

ABOUT THE ROLE
The company, a leading UAE-based developer of autonomous systems and advanced unmanned solutions, is at the forefront of innovation in the aerospace and defence industry. As part of its commitment to developing advanced UAV capabilities, the company is seeking an experienced Principal Engineer - Mission Systems to lead the design, development, integration, and verification of advanced avionics and mission systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The role will provide technical leadership across mission systems architecture, avionics integration, mission payloads, communication systems and system safety. The successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, suppliers and operational stakeholders to ensure system performance, reliability, safety and mission readiness throughout the development lifecycle.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and manage system-level requirements, avionics architecture and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for UAV mission systems.
• Lead the integration of avionics, mission computers, navigation systems, communication systems and mission payloads, including EO/IR, SIGINT, radar and other ISR equipment.
• Manage hardware and software interfaces, technical trade studies and system-level design activities.
• Develop and review system safety assessments, including FHA, FMEA and PSSA/SSA.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace and defence standards, including SAE ARP 4754, SAE ARP 4761, DO-178C, DO-254 and MIL-STD requirements.
• Lead system verification and validation activities, including simulation, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), ground testing and flight testing.
• Analyse test results and telemetry data to verify system performance against requirements.
• Manage technical interfaces and monitor supplier design, integration and verification activities.
• Prepare and review technical documentation, system specifications, verification plans, test reports and design review deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership during system design reviews, integration campaigns and flight test activities.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Avionics Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum 15+ years of relevant experience in UAV, aerospace or defence avionics/mission systems engineering.
• Demonstrated experience in avionics system design, architecture and integration on UAV or aerospace platforms.
• Proven experience integrating mission payloads such as EO/IR, SIGINT, radar, LiDAR, navigation or communication systems.
• Strong understanding of avionics communication protocols, including MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, CAN, Ethernet or RS-422.
• Experience in system requirements management, interface definition, verification and validation.
• Knowledge of system safety, certification, qualification and aerospace/defence compliance processes.
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Avionics Systems, Mission Systems or Systems Engineering.
• Experience with UAV command and control systems, RF communication, datalinks and real-time mission data processing.
• Familiarity with embedded operating systems such as VxWorks, QNX or Embedded Linux.
• Proficiency in systems engineering tools such as IBM DOORS, Polarion, SysML or UML.
• Experience with simulation environments, HIL testing, telemetry analysis and flight test campaigns.
• Knowledge of SAE ARP 4754, SAE ARP 4761, MIL-STD-882, DO-178C, DO-254, MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-810.
• INCOSE ASEP/CSEP certification is strongly preferred.
• Training or certification in DO-178C, DO-254, cybersecurity/DO-326 or CISSP is advantageous.
• Familiarity with AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience in supplier technical management and multidisciplinary engineering leadership.
• Must be eligible for applicable UAE defence/security clearance.
• Willingness to relocate to the UAE and undertake domestic and international travel for supplier visits, integration and test campaigns.
• Arabic language proficiency is an added advantage.

WHY CHOOSE THE COMPANY
Launched in November 2019, the UAE's company is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.
At the company, the real investment goes beyond compensation. Through our dedicated learning academy and digital learning platforms, employees have access to extensive opportunities to develop new skills, deepen their expertise, and advance their careers. Combined with the freedom to innovate, strong career support, and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class talent from across the globe, the company is a place where you can continue to grow, keep learning, and turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes.
Working at the company also comes with a package that genuinely reflects how much we value our people. Salaries are highly competitive and tax-free and, depending on your role and seniority, benefits can include family visas, annual flight tickets, medical insurance for you and your dependents, and education allowances for your children.

CANDIDATE PRIVACY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
If you feel your skills, experience and potential are a strong match for a role, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. We are genuinely interested in what you can bring to the company.
Any information you share as part of your company candidate profile or job application will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy regulations.
The company is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. We believe every individual deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and our employment decisions reflect that. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
As a global organisation, effective collaboration across international teams is central to how we work, so English proficiency is required for all roles unless otherwise stated in the job posting.
Please note that the company does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes in the absence of a formally executed agreement in place will be deemed the property of the company, and no placement fees or compensation will be payable in respect of such submissions.