Lead Project Manager

Leonardo; Lincoln; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Pension with employer contribution

Mental health support

Private healthcare

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking a Lead Project Manager to drive mission-critical software products across international military operations. You will lead cross-disciplinary teams, shape strategic roadmaps, manage budgets and ensure delivery against time, cost and quality targets.

You will engage with customers, guide bids and campaigns, and report delivery performance to senior leadership. A hybrid working model and strong career development are offered within a global aerospace and defence leader.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams or projects, ideally involving software-intensive systems.
• Strong background in complex engineering, software delivery or mission-system environments.
• Financial and commercial acumen, including forecasting, cost control and contract awareness.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to manage risks, issues and interdependencies across multiple workstreams.
• Strategic thinking combined with disciplined delivery capability.
• A proactive, positive, autonomous approach.

Responsibilities

• Shape software product and business strategy for Mission Support products.
• Deliver end-to-end software projects to time, cost and quality.
• Lead and develop people within the IPT.
• Build relationships with customers; support bids and campaigns.
• Provide accurate reporting to senior leadership on delivery performance, finances and portfolio status.

Skills

Lead multidisciplinary teams

Stakeholder engagement

Engineering & software delivery

Financial acumen

Risk management

Job description

Salary - £70,000 to £80,000 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.

Job Description Job Advert Salary - £70,000 to £80,000 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 Join Leonardo’s Mission Support product area—where advanced software, mission-critical capability, and trusted delivery support UK and international military operations across Fast Jet, Fixed Wing, and Rotary platforms. As a Lead Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of advanced software products that give armed forces the mission insight, planning power, and operational advantage they need to succeed. This is a rare opportunity to influence a growing portfolio of software products at the forefront of avionic mission systems, delivering next‑generation advanced software tools to enhance Leonardo’s Electronic Warfare, Platform Protection and Sensing products—such as BriteCloud, SEER/SAGE, Praetorian and European Common Radar—to support platforms including Wedgetail, A400M, Typhoon, NMH, and the Global Combat Aircraft Programme. Operating at the centre of an Integrated Project Team (IPT), you will bring together engineering, commercial, procurement, capability and sales teams to successfully deliver software projects, shape strategy, secure new opportunities, and strengthen Leonardo’s position as a global leader in mission systems.

Shape Software Product & Business Strategy

• Contribute to the long-term vision and roadmap for Mission Support software products
• Drive key elements of the Integrated Business Plan (IBP), delivering financial and strategic goals
• Engage closely with customers and emerging market trends to guide future capability development

Deliver Advanced Software Products to Time, Cost & Quality

• Lead end-to-end delivery of multiple software development, enhancement and in-service support projects
• Apply rigorous lifecycle management and governance across all software products
• Manage risk, issues, dependencies and cross-portfolio interactions
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation across the Mission Support portfolio

Lead and Develop People

• Provide mentoring, coaching and leadership to project managers within the team
• Foster an empowered, collaborative IPT culture built on trust, accountability and shared success

Customer, Stakeholder & Business Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse and complex customer community
• Support bids, proposals and campaigns to secure future opportunities and increase PWIN
• Provide accurate, timely reporting to senior leadership on delivery performance, finances and portfolio status

What You’ll Bring

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams or projects, ideally involving software-intensive systems
• Strong background in complex engineering, software delivery or mission-system environments
• Financial and commercial acumen, including forecasting, cost control and contract awareness
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Ability to manage risks, issues and interdependencies across multiple workstreams
• Strategic thinking combined with disciplined delivery capability
• A proactive, positive, autonomous approach
• Commitment to fostering a collaborative, one‑team IPT culture

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 - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Additional Locations

GB - Lincoln

Contract Type

Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid