HF Systems Architect

This job description describes the requirement for a High Frequency Radio (HF) and HF Products Systems Architect working in the Network and Infrastructure Systems Business Line of Secure Communications and Information Systems (SIX). The job involves working on challenging bids & programmes to bring new naval and infrastructure HF communications solutions to a variety of UK and overseas customers. The successful candidate is expected to be involved in the design development build test and trials phases of the programmes.

Key responsibilities:

• Define and execute customer-funded and self funded R&D tasks in HF communications systems and techniques.

• Participate in international meetings providing input into the development of new HF standards and interoperability profiles including promoting Thales capabilities as a provider of HF communications systems and products.

• Provide technical leadership for areas of the HF solution requirements development including determining user requirements system specification and architecture design including the use of a model-based systems engineering approach to improve product-line definition and development.

• Manage a number of engineers to complete the HF system design aspect of the solution and to maintain the design baseline through to customer platform acceptance.

• Provide technical support to the IVVQ team during the system integration and acceptance phase of the programme supporting the planning implementation and documentation of systems testing integration and customer acceptance.

• Conduct technical investigations into both equipment level and system level anomalies liaising with software hardware & drawing office engineers as required.

• Maintain the design and production baselines through to platform acceptance including specifications ICDs cable data sheets BOMs and certification documentation liaising with production the DO and safety engineers as required.

• Provide work package estimates that balance quality compliance and cost subsequently discharge work packages to time quality and cost.

Skills experience and qualifications:

• RF equipment familiarity and experience:

  • HF transmission systems ranging from tens of watts to tens of kW including solid-state PA applications and antenna matching systems.

  • Knowledge and understanding of HF receive system design.

• Proven experience of designing communication systems architectures and RF architectures ideally in the HF band. Experience in use of MBSE techniques and tools would be advantageous but not essential.

• Working knowledge of modelling the performance of HF communications systems including HF propagation modelling and topside design considerations.

• Experience of leading a small team of engineers during the design and integration phase of a programme.

• Experience in deriving and preparing system and sub-system specifications from customer requirements and to ensure that the requirements meet the needs of the customer.

  • Decomposition of system requirements (performance and functional) to equipment level requirements

• Ability to work as part of a team to generate a coherent set of specifications interface documentation and estimates liaising with other functions and departments as required.

• Knowledge and experience of Systems Engineering lifecycle activities including PDR CDR PRR and TRR through the design and development phases into production integration verification validation and acceptance.

• Experience of working with customers presenting technical solutions or chairing design reviews as required.

• Experience in the design development and deployment of naval communications systems including the aspects listed below would be advantageous but not essential:

  • Knowledge of naval communications systems equipment and infrastructure including management architectures and operational communications.

  • Transverse characteristics and qualification activities including the operational environment (temperature humidity shock vibration EMC TEMPEST) safety security human factors ILS etc.

  • Naval installation commissioning and trials activities.

• Willingness to travel to both supplier and customer locations.

Security Clearance Statement

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held however if not currently held it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo achieve and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 some circumstances a minimum of 3 years residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted with additional overseas checks.

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In line with Thales Baseline Security requirements candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

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