Lead Manufacturing Engineering Specialist

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Flexible benefits

Learning & development

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineering Specialist to shape the future of our operations. Based in Luton with global travel to Edinburgh, Basildon and Southampton, you will drive manufacturing strategy across lifecycles and provide expert technical advice to customers and internal teams.

You will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, apply data-driven decisions, and push innovative processes to enable world-class production of Leonardo products while maintaining a

Qualifications

• Experience across multiple phases of the product life cycle.
• Ability to influence using data and analysis.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and test processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop the operations manufacturing requirements for future Leonardo products across lifecycle stages.
• Provide complex technical advice to internal and external customers and influence decisions with data.
• Lead manufacturing engineering activities and ensure through-life suitability of processes and equipment.
• Travel to sites (Edinburgh, Basildon, Southampton) and occasional home-working where possible.

Skills

Manufacturing processes

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Product life cycle knowledge

Peer review experience

Communication of complex concepts

Systems thinking

Customer/supplier relationships

Process development

Education

HND or above in an engineering related discipline

Job description

Job Description

Salary: £59,400- 68,500

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

Leonardo’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) programme represents one of the most significant next‑generation defence avionics developments in Europe. This is a rare career‑defining opportunity to step into a pivotal national technical leadership role, at the heart of a world‑class engineering organisation with decades of expertise.

Lead Manufacturing Engineering Specialists are responsible for developing robust solutions and having broad experience across a number of the lifecycle phases and must be able to demonstrate a ’through life approach’ to manufacturing engineering. Lead Manufacturing Engineering Specialist are expected to achieve objectives across longer term planning horizons and provide complex technical advice to both internal and external customers.

As a Lead Manufacturing Engineering Specialist you will join the team to develop the operations manufacturing requirements of the future, taking innovative processes and equipment into account, enabling world class production of future Leonardo products.

This role will require travel to other sites such as Edinburgh, Basildon and Southampton, with an opportunity to work from home on occasion.

What you’ll bring

External Approvals (may include)

• Registration as a Chartered Engineer or other relevant Professional Body

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• In depth understanding of manufacturing and test processes and principles

• Ability to influence and negotiate with others using data and analysis to support line of reasoning

• A detailed understanding of the operational framework and business processes

• An understanding of cross functional / commercial business processes and their own impact

• Demonstrated knowledge, and experience of multiple phases of the Product Life Cycle and the associated processes

• Experience of peer reviewing the work of others inside a product team and within a sub Engineering Unit and ensuring the resulting actions are implemented

• Ability to communicate concepts in a non-technical way

• Confidence and ability to challenge / respond to technical / process issues whilst understanding the broad impact of solutions (systems thinking)

• Ability to interact effectively and manage the relationships with customers and suppliers

• Been involved in capability and / or process development, demonstrating an ability to implement a change to working practices

Qualifications

• HND or above in an engineering related discipline

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

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, orplan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoygenerous leavewiththe 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 - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type

Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid