Senior Systems Engineer

Agilent is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to join our R&D organisation in Harwell, UK. This role is responsible for providing system-level technical leadership across the development of complex scientific instrumentation, working closely with multidisciplinary teams spanning software, firmware, electronics, mechanical engineering, applications, and operations.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical depth with broad systems-thinking capability, enabling them to understand complex interactions across subsystems, drive integration activities, resolve challenging technical issues, and ensure successful delivery of innovative products.

This is a highly collaborative role suited to an engineer who enjoys working across organisational boundaries, influencing technical direction, and turning complex engineering challenges into robust product solutions., Systems Architecture & Requirements

• Define, capture, and manage system-level requirements.
• Translate customer, scientific, and business needs into technical specifications.
• Support development of product architectures and subsystem interfaces.
• Drive system-level design reviews and technical risk assessments.
• Ensure traceability between requirements, implementation, verification, and product performance.

System Integration & Technical Leadership

• Lead integration of hardware, firmware, software, and mechanical subsystems into complete instrument solutions.
• Act as a technical focal point across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Drive resolution of complex cross-functional technical challenges.
• Facilitate effective communication between development teams and stakeholders.
• Support strategic technical decision making throughout the product lifecycle.

Verification, Validation & Performance

• Define system verification and validation strategies.
• Develop test approaches to demonstrate system performance against requirements.
• Identify and manage technical risks early in the development cycle.
• Ensure robust engineering practices are applied throughout product development.

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

• Lead investigation of complex system issues using structured troubleshooting methodologies.
• Perform system-level fault finding across software, firmware, electronics, optics, mechanics, and instrument control systems.
• Drive root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Support customer escalations and sustaining engineering activities where required.

Team Development

• Provide coaching and mentoring to engineers across disciplines.
• Contribute to the development of systems engineering best practices within the organisation.
• Support the technical development of project teams.
• Potentially undertake line management responsibilities depending on experience and organisational needs.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in a Systems Engineering role within a complex product development environment.
• Demonstrated success integrating multidisciplinary systems involving hardware, firmware, and software.
• Strong experience in system-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence technical decisions across multiple engineering disciplines.

Preferred

• Electrical or Electronic Engineering background.
• Previous experience developing scientific instruments, analytical instrumentation, medical devices, semiconductor equipment, or other complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience with requirements management and systems engineering methodologies.
• Exposure to model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and approaches.
• Previous line management, team leadership, or technical leadership experience.
• Experience working within a global R&D organisation.