Principal Systems Engineer

Principal Systems Engineer - Nuclear & Control Systems

Location: Sheffield / Eckington, South Yorkshire

Employment Type: Permanent

The Role

A leading engineering and technology solutions provider is looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to join its specialist Safety & Control team in the Sheffield area.

Working across the nuclear and highly regulated engineering sectors, you will take technical ownership of complex control systems projects, leading the design, development and integration of advanced software and hardware solutions.

This is a senior position combining hands-on systems engineering expertise with technical leadership, project delivery and client engagement. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, guiding projects from initial concept through to commissioning and successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development and integration of complex control systems, reviewing and approving system architectures, engineering designs and technical specifications.
• Translate client requirements into functional and non-functional specifications, ensuring solutions meet relevant technical and compliance standards.
• Oversee systems integration, testing, validation and troubleshooting to ensure performance, compatibility and reliability.
• Lead technical documentation, including design specifications, requirements, test plans and quality documentation.
• Plan and lead commissioning activities at client sites.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance and mentoring to engineering teams, supporting their professional development.
• Manage project resources, expenditure, timesheets and allocated budgets, ensuring successful delivery against agreed scopes.
• Lead technical discussions, client meetings and relationship management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide technical input and approval during the bidding process, including estimating engineering time and delivery requirements.
• Work collaboratively with software, hardware, workshop and project management teams to resolve technical challenges and deliver project objectives.
• Ensure engineering outputs comply with quality management systems, client-specific requirements and relevant industry standards.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience within systems engineering.
• Strong technical knowledge of control systems software, including SCADA, PLC and HMI packages.
• Experience applying systems engineering principles, methodologies and integration processes.
• Background in software development and hardware integration.
• Experience working within highly regulated engineering environments, ideally nuclear.
• Previous experience working on client sites, including commissioning and technical delivery.
• A good understanding of project management principles, cost control and client management.
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring and managing engineering teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to lead technical discussions and engage confidently with clients.
• An understanding of contractual and commercial requirements.

Desirable

• Experience within the nuclear industry or other highly regulated engineering sectors.
• Experience contributing to technical bids, estimating engineering time and approving technical solutions.
• Knowledge of client-specific and international engineering standards.
• Previous responsibility for project budgets, resource planning and full project delivery.

What's on Offer

• Hybrid working, typically 3 days in the office and 2 from home.
• Flexible start and finish times, including Flexi Fridays. Core hours 10-3
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Buying and selling of additional annual leave
• Private medical insurance and life assurance.
• Payment of professional membership fees.
• Employee assistance and wellbeing benefits.

DCS Recruitment and all associated companies are committed to creating a working environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, gender identity, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, age, or nationality

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