Location: Crawley, United KingdomThales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
Above Water Systems (AWS) Campaign Lead - Hybrid Navy
Location: Crawley, Bristol, Reading or Portsmouth
Other: full-time, hybrid, with 50% domestic travel
Step into a role where you’ll shape the future of naval capability, influence decision‑makers across the UK and NATO, and help drive one of the most significant transformations in modern maritime defence!
What the role has to offer
Shape UK and NATO customer thinking at all levels, positioning Thales as the trusted partner in the Hybrid Navy transition
Lead complex capture campaigns from stakeholder mapping and solution definition through to demonstrations, partnerships and competitive positioning
Apply deep understanding of Hybrid Navy concepts and AAW (Anti-Air Warfare) needs to engage credibly with MoD, Royal Navy and industry and shape customer‑aligned solutions
Our Opportunity
Reporting to the Head of Sales AWS (Above Water Systems), you will lead the AWS‑UK campaign driving the Royal Navy’s transition toward a Hybrid Navy concept aligned with the 1st Sea Lord’s vision. Leveraging deep AAW expertise, you will shape and strengthen collaboration with the UK MoD, positioning AWS‑UK as a trusted partner and building on our Mission System Integration success in the Type 31 Design & Build programme.
We’re seeking an individual with credible operational experience in the maritime and air domains, capable of translating Thales’ capabilities into clear, influential insight for UK MoD and NATO stakeholders. You will be a confident self‑starter who can navigate complex IAMD (Integrated Air and Missile Defence) environments, cultivate high‑value relationships, and drive business‑winning activity in a competitive landscape. Exceptional communication, problem‑solving and stakeholder‑management skills are essential.
The ideal candidate is a former Naval Warfare Officer who has since gained business development and capture experience within industry, ideally with a strong domestic sales & business development background. We also welcome applications from individuals with transferable experience seeking a lateral move into a high‑impact, strategically significant role.
Building a Future, we can all trust.
At Thales, customer focus and innovation drive everything we do. Our Strategy, Marketing and Sales teams lead the way, powered by advanced digital technologies such as AI, Quantum, 6G, Cybersecurity and Neuroscience. Joining us means becoming part of a community committed to making the world safer through purposeful, customer‑focused innovation.
Within Defence Mission Systems (DMS), we deliver cutting‑edge solutions across electronic combat systems, airborne surveillance, and above‑ and underwater combat capabilities. In Above Water Systems (AWS) – Naval Forces, we support navies operating in some of the world’s most demanding environments, helping them maintain tactical and strategic advantage. With a global presence and strong local partnerships, we work together to build a future we can all trust.
What we offer you
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:
Annual bonus (VCP)
Pension – match like-for-like up to 7% of annual base salary
Life Assurance – 2 x base salary minimum (8 x salary if part of the pension scheme)
Income Protection – 50% of salary less state benefits for 5 years
Annual Leave – 201 hours, bank holidays, plus 1 company day
Private Medical Insurance - Couples cover
4 day working week – 9.25 hours per day
24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
24 hours paid leave for volunteering activities
Access to flexible benefits and discounts – dental insurance, buying & selling annual leave, cycle to work, and many more
Key Responsibilities and Tasks
Lead stakeholder engagement to drive growth in Hybrid Navy opportunities across UK and export markets
Coordinate and align Hybrid Navy capture activity across Thales UK Domains
Build strong engagement with Royal Navy and NATO stakeholders, shaping their Hybrid Navy direction
Plan and execute capture activities, positioning AWS‑UK as the Royal Navy’s partner of choice
Provide MoD insight on how industry can address capability needs and influence AAW‑related working groups
Define the Thales Hybrid Navy and Atlantic Shield/Strike solution, and work with engineering teams to map required capabilities
Secure Concept, Feasibility, Research & Development (CFR&D) funding to de‑risk solutions and deliver capability demonstrations, including MMC
Identify solution gaps and partnership opportunities, integrating third‑party suppliers where needed
Produce white papers, value propositions, and customer messaging to shape market thinking
Represent Thales at key events e.g., annual Combined Naval Event (CNE) and deliver internal briefings on Hybrid Navy and AAW concepts
About You
At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.
Proven experience in a similar role, or clearly transferable skills suited to a complex defence environment
Demonstrated experience of warfighting operations in the maritime and air domains, providing credible operational insight
Proven success in business winning within a competitive environment, with the ability to influence customer direction
Demonstrated understanding of Thales’ capabilities and global position, and the ability to communicate this effectively to UK MoD and NATO
Proven knowledge of the IAMD environment and associated battlespace domains, with the ability to apply this understanding to customer needs
Demonstrated ability to rapidly identify problems and coordinate the right resources to resolve them, coupled with proven capability to work autonomously and make sound, effective decisions without close oversight
Demonstrated ability to map, maintain and expand stakeholder networks across MoD and NATO, coupled with proven communication, partnership and stakeholder‑management skills that enable credible engagement at all levels
If you’re ready to make a strategic impact at the heart of the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy evolution, please apply now.
UKEO (UK Eyes Only)
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.
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.
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.
#LI-VG1
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment,if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
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