Lead Platform Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off flexi-days

Pension

Mental health support

Learning platforms

Private healthcare

Flexible hours

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo UK in Bristol seeks a Lead Platform Engineer to define and govern platform architectures across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. You will mentor engineers, drive technical roadmaps, and ensure secure-by-design delivery for defence and government projects.

You will work in a hybrid model with home and Bristol office collaboration, contributing to bids and governance while solving complex technical challenges and influencing strategy at the highest level.

Qualifications

• Deep technical expertise across platform domains (Windows/Linux, virtualization, cloud, networking, cyber tooling, automation).
• Experience leading design and integration of complex, secure systems.
• Knowledge of DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, and containerisation.
• Strong awareness of secure-by-design principles and accreditation requirements.
• Proven track record mentoring and developing engineers.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical authority across multiple projects and programmes, ensuring consistency of design and best practice.
• Define platform architectures and drive technical roadmaps for on-premise, hybrid, and cloud environments.
• Lead feasibility studies, technology assessments, and innovation initiatives.
• Provide expert-level guidance in troubleshooting and resolving complex technical challenges.
• Mentor Principal, Senior, and early-career engineers to grow capability across the community.
• Represent Leonardo at technical reviews, customer forums, and industry events, presenting and defending solution designs.
• Contribute to bids, proposals, and business winning activities with technical expertise.
• Ensure that security, compliance, and engineering governance are applied across technical delivery.

Skills

Platform authority

Windows/Linux OS

Virtualisation

Cloud

Networking

Cyber tooling

Automation

DevSecOps

Infrastructure as Code

Containerisation

Secure-by-design

Accreditation

Mentoring engineers

Tools

VMware

AWS

Azure

Kubernetes

Active Directory

PKI

SIEM

Job description

Job Description

Your Impact

Do you want to shape the future of secure platforms that underpin the UK’s most critical missions? At Leonardo, our Lead Platform Engineers are recognised experts, providing technical authority and thought leadership across projects and programmes. They define, deliver, and evolve the technical direction of our platforms, ensuring our solutions remain robust, secure, and innovative. Your work at Leonardo UK will see you take the lead in solving customer problems in an agile, innovative and team-centric manner. The role may involve a blended hybrid working model, with a mixture of working from home and working on site at one of our Leonardo offices to ensure close collaboration with the wider team and with our customers. This role is focused on delivering, maintaining, and improving platform and systems engineering solutions that underpin critical defence, government and public sector services.

What you will do as a Lead Platform Engineer

• Act as the technical authority across multiple projects and programmes, ensuring consistency of design and best practice.

• Define platform architectures and drive technical roadmaps for on-premise, hybrid, and cloud environments.

• Lead feasibility studies, technology assessments, and innovation initiatives.

• Provide expert-level guidance in troubleshooting and resolving complex technical challenges.

• Mentor Principal, Senior, and early-career engineers to grow capability across the community.

• Represent Leonardo at technical reviews, customer forums, and industry events, presenting and defending solution designs.

• Contribute to bids, proposals, and business winning activities with technical expertise.

• Ensure that security, compliance, and engineering governance are applied across technical delivery.

What you’ll bring

• Demonstrated expertise as a technical authority across multiple platform domains.
• Ability to influence strategy, shape technical direction, and deliver solutions to the highest standards.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike.

Core areas (must have)

• Deep technical expertise in platform engineering domains: Windows/Linux OS, virtualisation, cloud, networking, cyber tooling, and automation.
• Experience leading the design and integration of complex, secure systems.
• Knowledge of DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, and containerisation.
• Strong awareness of secure-by-design principles and accreditation requirements.
• Proven track record of mentoring and developing engineers.

Desirable:

• Recognised industry certifications (e.g. VMware VCP/VCAP, AWS/Azure Architect, Kubernetes CKA/CKAD).
• Experience influencing technical standards and best practice within an organisation.
• Contribution to innovation, research, or technical publications.
• Engagement in wider professional communities or forums.
• Familiarity with enterprise IT services such as Active Directory, PKI, monitoring and SIEM.

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

Location

This role is based at our Bristol site, with hybrid/custom working options where appropriate.

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.

• Time to Recharge: Generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: 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.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits such as private healthcare, lifestyle discounts, and gym memberships.
• Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options

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.

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.

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.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location: GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid