Electro Optic Systems Engineer

Leonardo; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Leonardo UK Edinburgh is recruiting experienced Senior and Principal Systems Engineers to join the MIMAS Transition Phase Engineering Team. You will help shape future Electro-Optic system concepts and designs by developing EO performance models to define, challenge and validate product requirements.

Your modelling work will influence architectures, technology choices and design parameters, supported by robust analysis and trade studies, with responsibility for documenting configurations and

Qualifications

• Experience in EO systems modelling.
• Proficiency in MATLAB or suitable equivalent.
• Experience conducting sensitivity analyses to support system design.
• Understanding of model configuration, management, and documentation principles.
• Experience applying modelling techniques to support requirements definition, validation, and system design.
• Experience conducting structured trade studies and option assessments.
• Strong communication skills to communicate technical findings, recommendations, and issues to a range of stakeholders.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to take ownership of technical tasks and work effectively both independently and within a team.

Responsibilities

• Deliver EO modelling tasks to support system concept development, requirements definition and design validation.
• Conduct sensitivity analyses and trade studies to evaluate design options and inform system parameters.
• Generate robust technical evidence to support requirements development, verification and validation activities.
• Ensure modelling activities are configured, documented and managed.
• Translate system requirements into modelling approaches and use modelling outputs to inform design decisions and requirements evolution.
• Present technical recommendations, progress updates and risks clearly and effectively to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop coherent and technically robust EO system solutions.
• Scope and define modelling activities to support programme objectives.

Skills

EO modelling task

MATLAB

Sensitivity analyses

Model configuration

Structured trade studies

Communication skills

Independent & team work

Tools

MATLAB

Job description

Job Description:

Senior Systems Engineer £44,500 - £56,000

Principal Systems Engineer £53,500 - £68,000

Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment.

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your impact

The Systems Function is seeking experienced Senior and Principal Systems Engineers to join the MIMAS Transition Phase Engineering Team.

As a Senior or Principal Systems Engineer within the MIMAS Transition Phase Engineering Team, you will play a key role in shaping future Electro-Optic (EO) system concepts and designs. Through the development and application of EO performance models, you will generate the evidence needed to define, challenge and validate product requirements, helping the business make informed engineering decisions at the earliest stages of the lifecycle.

Your work will directly influence system architectures, technology selections and design parameters, ensuring proposed solutions are underpinned by robust analysis and structured trade studies.

What you’ll do

• Deliver EO modelling tasks to support system concept development, requirements definition and design validation
• Conduct sensitivity analyses and trade studies to evaluate design options and inform system parameters, such as aperture size.
• Generate robust technical evidence to support requirements development, verification and validation activities.
• Ensure modelling activities are configured, documented and managed.
• Translate system requirements into modelling approaches and use modelling outputs to inform design decisions and requirements evolution.
• Present technical recommendations, progress updates and risks clearly and effectively to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop coherent and technically robust EO system solutions.
• Scope and define modelling activities to support programme objectives.

What you’ll bring

• Experience in Electro-Optic (EO) systems modelling.
• Proficiency in MATLAB or suitable equivalent.
• Experience conducting sensitivity analyses to support system design decisions.
• Understanding of model configuration, management, and documentation principles.
• Experience applying modelling techniques to support requirements definition, validation, and system design.
• Experience conducting structured trade studies and option assessments.
• Strong communication skills to communicate technical findings, recommendations, and issues to a range of stakeholders.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to take ownership of technical tasks and work effectively both independently and within a team.

What else would help

• Experience in EO system concept development and architecture studies.
• Experience defining, scoping and planning modelling activities.
• Experience of model assurance, verification, or validation activities.
• Broader systems engineering experience across the system lifecycle.

We recognise that no candidate will match every skill and experience listed. If you're excited by the opportunity and believe you have relevant skills, knowledge or transferable experience that would enable you to succeed in the role, we encourage you to apply.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you’re looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location:

GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Onsite