SAR Systems Engineer
About the role
Job Description
SECURITY CLEARANCE:Eligibility to gain UK SC Security Clearance
TRAVEL REQUIRED:Minimal travel to Airbus sites and customer sites
LOCATION:Portsmouth
TYPE:Full time, STEM returners are welcomed
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
- Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options, car leasing scheme, free onsite parking, tax-free technology scheme, discounted shopping and much more
- Work / Life Balance: 37 hour week, flexible working around core hours, hybrid working, up to 2 additional days per month as TOIL.
There are no core hours on Friday afternoons. Employees may use this flexibility at their discretion, provided they fulfil their contractual working hours and meet business needs (such as urgent deadlines or client requirements)
- Personal Development: Personalised development plan and unlimited access to 10,000+ E-learning courses, internal mobility including international opportunities
- Health & Wellbeing: Wellbeing benefits (including 24/7 online GP and mental health support), Employee Assistance Programme, discounted family health / dental insurance / eye tests, cycle-to-work scheme, on-site canteen and coffee shop, lunchtime pilates
- Family and Caregiving: Life assurance, enhanced pay for parental leave (23 weeks at 100% pay), adoption / shared parental / caregiving leave
- Inclusive Environment: Wellbeing room, Multi-faith room, Employee Representative Groups (Gender, LGBTQ+, International, Generational, Disability, Social & Cultural Diversity, Neurodiversity)
About the role....
We are looking for a Radar Systems Engineer to work closely with Universities, Small companies and Space Agencies such as ESA to explore future Microwave Instrumentation and RF technologies.
Joining a small, helpful, team who are part of the greater Microwave Department, you will work on proposals and studies for Microwave instrumentation, principally Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), built for Earth Observation, planetary exploration, Scientific Mission satellites.
The career progression for this role could be Project Manager, Engineering Manager, or technical expert.
How you will contribute to the team…
- Lead microwave instrument technical proposals and studies spanning up to 14 months with specific focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar.
- Analyse, design and develop Microwave Instrument systems.
- Continuously monitor study progression, ensure timely resolutions of technical issues and champion change management with the wider company and customer
- Throughout the whole lifecycle, check the overall systems design aligns with the customers requirements from proposal preparation to customer deliveries, including schedules, technical design trade offs and managing work packages
- Request and provide peer reviews with your fellow technical people for studies, projects and proposals.
- Support technical / industrial negotiations with the customer and support commercial and contractual negotiations
About you?
- Technical expertise and experience in microwave instrument design with detailed knowledge of Synthetic Aperture Radar.
- Interested in working with experts and knowledge shares to create technology for future space missions
- Experience of technical studies, including bid process, proposal writing and gathering customer requirements
How we can support you
Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request.
Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.
This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.
Company
AIRBUS Defence and Space Limited
Employment Type
Permanent
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Experience Level
Professional
Job Family
Chief Engineering & Architecture <JF-EN-EA>
By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom@airbus.com .
At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.
Copied from the listing Airbus Defence and Space published, verified 31 Oct 2026.
About Airbus Defence and Space
Satellites, exploration hardware and laser terminals, built inside the Airbus group.
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