From Green Beret to Systems Engineer: meet Prash
Prash joined Optima in August 2025 having served for seven years as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (REME) Officer. He finished his military career as a Principal Engineer for 24 Commando Royal Engineers, procuring the newest equipment Defence had to offer for the Unit.
Having been at Optima for just over six months, we caught up with Prash to see what he has been up to.
What have you done since joining Optima?
My first month at Optima was a whirlwind of activity. From conducting market research into UAVs and Hypersonic Missiles for ongoing projects, to representing the company at DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International), to supporting Optima’s role within the Institute for Systems Engineering (IfSE) with responding to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). I was also assigned a Personal Development Mentor to assist me in achieving Chartered Engineer status.
The entire Optima team has been incredibly welcoming. The organisation’s flat structure means you can comfortably approach anyone, including the Managing Director.
With many ex-military personnel across the company (around a third of the company are ex-forces), there’s a strong understanding of the challenges involved in transitioning to civilian life. It makes a real difference to having colleagues who can relate to your journey and are always willing to offer advice when needed.
Everyone at Optima has arrived through a different path, and you can really feel the breadth of experience this brings to the company. The ability to reach back into the company for support means you always have access to that collective knowledge, no matter what project you’re working on.
I now work heavily in Test & Evaluation, engaging with stakeholders and producing materials for engagement activities. Alongside this, I support the team with requirements management, traceability, and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
What skills from your military background do you think bring the most value to your role as a Systems Engineer?
I think it’s my confidence in new situations, with new people. I can quickly understand who the key stakeholders are and how their needs affect the system. Formalising and agreeing this early in Mission Statements/Objectives/Intents provides direction but also anchors the programme as people change.
What was the most memorable part of your military career?
It’s a bit funny/weird actually! The most memorable parts of my career are the ones where I was tired, cold and miserable… times that I now look back on and laugh. For example, in Norway, living in a tent for a week in conditions of -25 degrees (but getting to see the northern lights every night!). Or while on Commando Course – just being tired, wet and miserable for three months but getting the coveted green beret at the end!
Where are your areas of interest and what challenges do you think there are?
I have a strong interest in UAVs, from small systems to larger platforms. This began during a procurement task in my final military role, where I led requirements gathering for an engineer‑specific drone.
The first main challenge I see is combatting Electronic Warfare (EW) threats which drive the use of fibre-optic cabling, creating a huge environmental burden in Ukraine…. but do so at an affordable cost.
The second main challenge I see is integrating UAVs into operational systems so that the information they collect is fed back effectively into the ops room. At the moment, many drones are used primarily as one‑way effectors, and the valuable data they gather often isn’t accessible at the point where decisions are made. Ensuring seamless data flow and integration would unlock far more intelligence value.
What advice would you give potential forces leavers who are looking to move into Systems Engineering?
The majority of senior Other Ranks and Officers will have Systems Engineering experience – you just don’t know it yet! My best advice? Don’t try to figure it out alone; reach out, have the conversation, and you might be surprised how quickly it starts to make sense. If you have opportunities to visit NADG (DE&S) or take up a posting there, I would highly recommend it. They practice Systems Engineering techniques on a daily basis!
Are you transitioning out of service and exploring what’s next?
If you’re leaving the Armed Forces and wondering where your skills fit in the civilian world, come and meet us for an informal chat at the Veteran Expo on 23 April in Ashton Gate, Bristol. Registration for the event is free, you can sign up on this link.