Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Join a growing Above Water Systems (AWS) team delivering next-generation Combat Management Systems for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 programme. This is a high-impact opportunity to work at the forefront of naval system integration, ensuring complex mission systems are delivered, tested, and accepted to operational standard.
The OpportunityYou will play a critical role in the Integration, Verification, Validation & Qualification (IVVQ) of Combat Management Systems, acting as the technical focal point across the full system lifecycle—from integration through to installation and sea trials.
This position offers strong exposure to customers and end users, giving you direct influence on how systems are accepted, operated, and evolved in service.
Key ResponsibilitiesLead IVVQ activities across the Combat Management System lifecycle
Develop and execute system test plans, procedures, and reporting
Support subsystem integration and system-level verification
Produce installation, release, and “setting to work” documentation
Support ship installation, harbour acceptance, and sea trials
Track, manage, and resolve system compliance and integration issues
Act as a key interface between engineering teams, customers, and end users
Proven Systems Engineering experience within complex defence or maritime environments
Strong background in IVVQ, V&V, or Systems Integration
Experience working with Combat Systems, Mission Systems, or similar complex platforms
Understanding of configuration control and engineering lifecycle processes
Familiarity with Systems Engineering frameworks (e.g. INCOSE, CHORUS2 or equivalent)
Knowledge of Engineering Safety and Security in a defence context
Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Work on a flagship Royal Navy programme (Type 31)
Be part of a rapidly growing AWS capability in the UK
Gain end-to-end system exposure from lab integration to live trials
Direct interaction with customers and operational end users
Opportunity to influence system performance and future capability evolution
Security Clearance Requirement
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.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.
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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!
Skills Required
- Proven Systems Engineering experience within complex defence or maritime environments
- Strong background in IVVQ, V&V, or Systems Integration
- Experience working with Combat Systems, Mission Systems, or similar complex platforms
- Understanding of configuration control and engineering lifecycle processes
- Familiarity with Systems Engineering frameworks (e.g. INCOSE, CHORUS2 or equivalent)
- Knowledge of Engineering Safety and Security in a defence context
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- Be a UK National and be able to achieve and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC) without caveats
Thales Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Thales and has not been reviewed or approved by Thales.
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Retirement Support — Retirement plans with employer contributions and matches, profit sharing, and share purchase opportunities are emphasized across multiple regions. These elements are positioned as competitive components of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO that increases with tenure, paid holidays, and paid military, maternity, and paternity leave are described. This breadth supports work–life balance across locations.
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Flexible Benefits — Hybrid work options, flexible schedules, and parental supports such as childcare benefits and leave for sick children are available in several markets. Flexibility is presented as a core part of the employee experience.
Thales Insights
What We Do
Thales is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers – businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.



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