Watson studied Electronics at the University of London from 1972 - 1974. He was awarded a masters degree in Cybernetics in 1976. In 1982, he completed his PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Sussex, UK.^[2]

Watson was BOC Edwards Technology Director, then Arup's Global Research Director and Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for the UK Department of Communities and Local Government (now DLUHC).^[3] He later joined UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences where he is Professor of Engineering Systems.^[4] He works within the department of Science Technology Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP). He was, until recently (08/21) the Chief Scientist & Engineer of BRE Group, UK.^[5] Until 2023, he was a member of the NPL Science and Technology Advisory Committee, and has been a visiting professor at Aston University, the University of Sussex and the University of Southampton, UK.^[6] Watson is the Director and Principal Investigator of the EPSRC-funded PETRAS National Centre of Excellence - a consortium of researchers from 24 universities working on making Internet of Things and Edge systems safe and secure.^[7] Recent interests include work to develop a cross-disciplinary Net Zero What Works Centre (NZWWC). He is a Fellow and recent trustee of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and was founding chair of the National Engineering Policy Centre committee. Watson was appointed to the UK Committee on Research Integrity in 2022, where he is specialising in Engineering research integrity and AI.

Watson was elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2010.^[8] He was awarded a CBE by the Queen for services to Engineering in 2013.^[9]