Air Combat Simulation Engineer
The advert says the job needs UK security clearance:
“As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level, or have the ability to gain it.”
SC clearance usually needs five years of living in the UK, and DV clearance usually needs ten. If you have lived here that long, for example on a Student and then a Graduate visa, you may be able to get it. Most people applying from outside the UK cannot, so the highest likelihood we give this job is Unlikely. Ask Saab UK whether they would sponsor you.
Unlikely
Sponsorship likelihood
The advert asks for security clearance
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£52,400
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2126 (89% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £52,400, and Saab UK is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
We pick the code from the advert's text, so it is our best guess, not the employer's. Each code it could be has its own likelihood:
- Unlikely 2126 (Aerospace engineers) · 89% match
- Unlikely 2129 (Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified) · 8% match
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2126 Aerospace engineers Most likely code | £36,700 | £41,900 | £47,200 | £52,400 |
2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified Also possible | £33,400 | £36,900 | £41,500 | £46,100 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Have you got what it takes to succeed The following information should be read carefully by all candidates.
Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.
The Role
This role is part of Saab BlueBear in Bedfordshire.
You will work as part of the Air Combat Simulation team supporting customers in the modelling and simulation of aircraft and associated systems, including the development and V&V of models and analysis tools.
Key Responsibilities
Work collaboratively as an integral part of a small team delivering a customer focused task-based modelling and simulation support service.
Develop Requirements from initial customer brief.
Build models and analysis tools to meet the customer requirements.
Update, debug and V&V of models and simulation tools.
Analyse results from model integration and simulation development to provide understanding of the component models performance and their interactions.
Develop and maintain tools for the translation of data files between formats in use within the community.
Develop Simulink models of aircraft and aerospace systems and auto-code to C/C++ and dll.
Integrate Models (Simulink and dll) into System-of-Systems models.
Undertake simulation development, testing and application with results analysis to provide understanding of component models and their interactions.
Develop and test models for integration into Distributed Simulations.
Extend the Distributed Simulation capabilities and functionality.
Sanity checking model performance and simulation results through cross-checking with other sources of information and engineering estimates.
Validation and Verification of model performance and simulation results against requirements.
Review documentation for accurate technical content and quality to ensure it meets the required high standards.
Investigate modelling and simulation tools to support new customer requirements.
Generate documentation (User Guides, Interface Control Documents, Delivery Notes, Verification and Validation reports) for models, simulations and applications developed by the team at an appropriate level for the expected end user's technical ability.
Report on technical issues encountered with 3rd party provided models and simulations covering the issues, significance and potential resolutions.
Qualifications And Skills
Matlab and Simulink (and Stateflow), Auto-coding to C/C++ and DLL
Programming languages (Preferably C++, C#, Delphi)
Flight Dynamics and aircraft performance modelling
Pilot modelling
Modelling of Sensors and Signatures (RF and EO/IR)
Knowledge of Earth coordinate systems (Flat, spherical, WGS-84)
Distributed Simulation (DIS, HLA) & Source Control (Git)
Solving optimisation problems.
Model integration into e.g. system-of-systems models and distributed simulations
Dealing With Aerospace Vehicle And System Models Including
Flight performance
multiple degree-of-freedom (3+) equations of motion
transformations between multiple frames of reference using Euler angle and quaternions
Sensors and signatures
Solving optimisation problems
Investigate, Understand And Resolve Problems With
Simulink model development
Model integration into e.g. system-of-systems models and distributed simulations
As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level, or have the ability to gain it.
By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Saab UK, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Aerospace engineers (SOC 2126) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay- Median £52,468
- Going rate £52,400
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £36,700–47,200
ONS publishes no quartiles for this occupation, so the shaded band is a rough guide.
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at Saab UKAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Saab UK holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2126 going rate of £52,400. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.