# Principal Autonomous Systems Engineer at QinetiQ

QinetiQ is hiring a Principal Autonomous Systems Engineer. It pays £62k-£70k a year and Level rates it Little AI ●○○○; you can [apply on QinetiQ](https://jobsbylevel.com/go/4fd93e61-dd9f-4333-811f-8be399707f62?utm_medium=ai-agent).

AI Level 1, AI centrality 33 out of 100. Farnborough, England, United Kingdom.

## Details

- Company: [QinetiQ](https://jobsbylevel.com/companies/qinetiq)
- AI level: AI Level 1 (score 33 out of 100)
- Location: Farnborough, England, United Kingdom
- Salary: £62k-£70k
- Posted: November 5, 2026
- Apply: https://jobsbylevel.com/go/4fd93e61-dd9f-4333-811f-8be399707f62?utm_medium=ai-agent
- Free CV review for this job: https://jobsbylevel.com/cv-review?job=principal-autonomous-systems-engineer-at-qinetiq-97e25a

## Description

Package: £62,250 - £69,750 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits Role ID: SF20873 Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Principal Autonomous Systems Engineer at our Farnborough site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds. The Role As a Principal Autonomous Systems Engineer, you'll provide technical leadership across autonomy programmes, influence strategic direction, mentor engineering teams and work directly with customers to deliver cutting-edge autonomous capabilities. Day-to-day, you'll lead multidisciplinary teams, shape future autonomy solutions, support business growth activities and guide the successful delivery of complex programmes across air or maritime autonomy domains. We expect your time to be split approximately 70% on leadership and 30% on technical delivery work. Your responsibilities will include: Providing technical leadership across autonomy and autonomous systems programmes Leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and mentoring senior engineers Defining technical strategy and influencing future capability development Engaging with customers and stakeholders to shape requirements and solutions Supporting the development of autonomy software, modelling and simulation capabilities Leading integration, demonstration and trial activities across defence programmes Essential experience of the Principal Autonomous Systems Engineer : Significant technical leadership experience within autonomy, robotics, defence, aerospace or related engineering environments Strong understanding of autonomous systems, robotics, control systems or AI-enabled technologies Experience leading complex technical programmes and engineering teams Experience developing and delivering customer-focused technical solutions Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and engineering governance Experience supporting business growth, customer engagement or strategic technical development Essential qualifications for the Principal Autonomous Systems Engineer : Degree in Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or another relevant STEM discipline Active SC clearance is desirable We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you. This role is 37 hours per week based at our Farnborough site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. At our Farnborough site exciting work takes place at our state-of-the-art facility, with high-energy laser technologies, our 5m pressurised wind tunnel which has a simulation capability that is unique in the UK and our large research and development projects is a real hub of creativity, research and innovation. Join our talented teams of Engineers, IT & Cyber Specialists, Project Managers, Group Functions Teams and many more to provide future defences in the UK. Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum. UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Our Recruitment Process: At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing internal_recruitment@qinetiq.com . One of our recruitment

The description is cut here. Read the full offer: https://jobsbylevel.com/jobs/principal-autonomous-systems-engineer-at-qinetiq-97e25a

Source: https://jobsbylevel.com/jobs/principal-autonomous-systems-engineer-at-qinetiq-97e25a

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