Head of Engineering Mission Services

About BAE Systems Saudi Arabia

BAE Systems is the UK Government’s nominated Prime Contractor under Government-to-Government arrangements, providing equipment, support, and training to Saudi Arabia. The company maintains Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) aircraft and trains RSAF and Royal Saudi Naval Force personnel in the safe use of aircraft, equipment, and weapons. BAE Systems Saudi Arabia supports the Saudi Arabian National Agenda, including Saudisation and the development of Saudi National capability through the growth of Saudi National Partner Companies, reinforcing industrialisation and partnerships.

Role Overview: Head of Engineering – Mission Services

The Head of Engineering – Mission Services reports to the Director of Mission Services and is responsible for leading all Prime Contract Engineering Management activities related to Electronic Warfare (EW) within the Salam Programme in Riyadh. This full-time role involves providing leadership and functional management to BAE Systems Saudi Arabia's Engineering staff deployed within EW programmes. The role holder will advise the Salam Programme on technical issues and engineering management strategies, ensuring customer EW requirements are captured, understood, and flowed down to product and service providers. The Head of Engineering will assure that integrated EW solutions meet the customer's intended use and will assist in the validation and acceptance of solution elements with the customer.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Prime Contracting Engineering activities for Salam Electronic Warfare Programmes, serving as the primary engineering management contact for all stakeholders, including BAE Systems Saudi Arabia, other BAE Systems Business Units, MODSAP, RAF, and RSAF staff.
• Support the development and measured implementation of Salam Engineering strategies across Electronic Warfare Programmes.
• Establish a suitable Salam Engineering management system, compliant with the BAE Systems Saudi Arabia Functional Governance Manual, covering organisation, roles, people, processes, and procedures.
• Ensure key technical roles are identified, individuals are licensed through appropriate Governance Routes, and delegated authority trails are documented.
• Ensure Electronic Warfare Teams, through their product and service providers, offer solutions that satisfy customer requirements and inform business decision-making on technical issues.
• Flow down relevant elements of the Salam Engineering management system to supplier organisations and implement appropriate assurance monitoring.
• Ensure technical elements interface correctly across all contracted packages, including supplier organisations, and that the complete system provides the capability to meet contracted customer requirements.
• Implement an integrated approach through the Salam Safety Management System, covering Product/Service/Environmental safety and SHE, in compliance with BAE Systems Saudi Arabia Safety Policy.
• Focus engineering activities on meeting delivery and quality standards, schedule expectations, and cost requirements in accordance with customer specifications, BAE Systems business needs, and the Engineering Functional Governance Manual.
• Ensure the Salam Electronic Warfare Engineering management capability, including deployed people, tools, and facilities, is suitable for business needs.
• Focus the Electronic Warfare Engineering community on reducing technical risk exposure, including maximising the flow-down of technical integration responsibility to product and service providers.
• Manage career development for Engineering staff within the Salam Electronic Warfare Programme.
• Manage the Saudisation Programme for Electronic Warfare Engineering roles.
• Ensure regular review and claiming of contract milestones according to the agreed schedule.
• Ensure Mission Services programmes are delivered in accordance with the agreed business plan and contractual commitments.
• Proactively manage risks and opportunities across the supply chain.
• Enhance and manage customer relationships across all Mission Services programmes.

Qualifications and Experience

• An Engineering degree or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent.
• Over 10 years of experience, including extensive experience in multi-national project environments, ideally with a period working abroad.
• Experience working on MoD Contracts, including supplier management of a supply chain.
• Experience in the development and application of engineering processes, organisational design, functional governance, assurance, and successful deployment.
• A track record of successfully managing several projects and acknowledged accomplishment/professional standing as a recognised Executive Engineer.
• Extensive experience in aerospace Prime Contracting, ideally in a KSA environment, and supporting Systems activities through the complete lifecycle, including disposal.
• Experience in a senior supporting role leading a delivery organisation in a technology-rich environment.
• Experience operating in a highly regulated and scrutinised area with significant impact on an organisation’s reputation.
• Strong Electronic Warfare engineering background, in either design or maintenance.
• Experience and knowledge of the Life Cycle Management (LCM) process, ideally as a Phase and/or Design Review Chair.
• Expert leadership, delegation, and team-building skills for effective people management of large and complex programmes.

Work Environment and Commitment

This full-time position is based in Riyadh. The role requires providing Engineering leadership and direction to all Salam Electronic Warfare activities, ensuring compliance with the Company’s Engineering Functional Governance Manual. The job holder will provide a controlled environment to manage all technical risks associated with meeting customer requirements within project timescales, quality standards, and budgets. The role holder will hold a level of delegated responsibility on behalf of the Salam Engineering Director, endorsed by the VP Engineering & Maintenance, and will represent BAE Systems Saudi Arabia on all Electronic Warfare Engineering management matters relating to the Salam Programme with customers (RSAF & MODSAP), partners, other BAE Systems Business Units, and sub-contractors by managing strategic interfaces.