MERITUS are recruiting for a Head of Systems Design Coordination to join Future Combat Air Programmes with our defence client at either their Bristol or Stevenage site.HEAD OF SYSTEM DESIGN COORDINATION - INSIDE IR35 - 80 PER HOUR ( 592 per day) - 6 MONTHS - SC CLEARED (UKEO) - BRISTOL OR STEVENAGE - FAST MOVING PROCESSMeritus is supporting a critical leadership hire within one of the UK''s most strategically important defence programmes - focused on the development of next-generation combat air capability.This role sits at the centre of a highly complex, multi-national programme shaping the future of air combat. You will operate at the intersection of platform design, weapons integration, and system-of-systems thinking - influencing how effects are delivered in a modern battlespace rather than simply integrated.This is not a siloed engineering leadership role. It is a coordination, governance, and influence position operating across a large-scale Chief Systems Engineering (CSE) organisation and external partner network.The RoleAs Head of Systems Design Coordination, you will lead a critical function responsible for aligning engineering activity across a large, multi-disciplinary systems organisation ( 70 engineers).Reporting directly to the Chief Systems Engineer, you will act as a deputy in senior forums and take ownership of engineering coordination across programme-wide activities.You will:Lead a Systems Design Coordination and Transversal team covering: Human FactorsThro