Head of Engineering; Systems & Products

Overview

Raytheon UK is a leader in defence and aerospace technology. As an employer, we are dedicated to fuelling innovation, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture of excellence. Joining our team means being part of an organisation that shapes the future of national security whilst investing in your growth and personal development. We provide a collaborative environment, abundant opportunities for professional development, and a profound sense of purpose in what we do.

Together, we are not just advancing technology; we're building a community committed to safeguarding a safer and more connected world.

We’re searching for an exceptional technical leader to serve as Head of Engineering – Weapons and Advanced Products
. This is a senior leadership role within Raytheon UK’s Engineering function, responsible for the strategic direction, technical execution, and resource management across a diverse portfolio of safety- and mission-critical products. The role spans two key Mission Areas:

• Weapons:
  Delivering complex weapons systems to the UK Armed Forces and international partners. Our portfolio includes the AMRAAM air-to-air missile, Paveway IV precision-guided weapon, Phalanx close-in weapon system, and Javelin anti-tank guided weapon. We are actively investing in next-generation capabilities such as directed energy weapons, precision-guided infantry systems, and utility weapons.
• Advanced Products:
  Designing and manufacturing Assured Position, Navigation and Timing (APNT) solutions and bespoke power conversion systems for land, sea, and air platforms. We also play a critical role in supplying components for RTX’s complex weapons systems.

Reporting directly to the Engineering Director, you will be a key member of the Engineering Leadership Team and a strategic partner to Mission Area Leaders. You will collaborate closely with Programme Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure successful delivery of engineering programmes from concept through to entry-into-service.

• Lead all engineering activities across the Weapons and Advanced Products Mission Areas, ensuring alignment with business strategy and customer requirements.
• Line management of Senior Engineering Managers and Subject Matter Experts, overseeing a team of circa 120 engineers.
• Act as the senior escalation point for engineering matters, ensuring timely resolution and optimal value delivery.
• Drive engineering capability development, including strategic resource planning and workload management, talent development and succession planning, performance and career management, recruitment and compensation strategy.
• Own engineering budgets and approve Basis of Estimates for Control Accounts.
• Lead technical input into bids and proposals, identifying risks, opportunities, and execution strategies.
• Champion technology roadmaps and investment cases to support future capability growth.
• Inspire and coach engineering teams, setting clear expectations for technical excellence and delivery discipline.
• Represent Raytheon UK as a senior technical authority with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide hands-on support for complex technical challenges in development and manufacturing.
• Deliver regular engineering status updates to senior leadership.
• Mentor future technical leaders and foster a culture of continuous improvement and process maturity.

• Proven senior engineering leadership in mission-critical product development, with deep understanding of design assurance and military standards.
• Broad technical expertise across Systems, Electronics, Software, Mechanical, Reliability, and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Experience in transitioning products to manufacturing and managing through-life support.
• Demonstrated ability to lead in matrixed environments and build high-performing teams.
• Strong track record in coaching, mentoring, and developing engineering talent.
• Financial acumen with experience managing multi-programme engineering budgets.
• Strategic thinker with a structured approach to problem solving and decision-making.
• Highly dependable, autonomous, and results-driven.
• Eligible for SC…