Lead Software Engineer (Embedded Ada)

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to Recharge: up to 12 flexi-days

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer

Mental health support

Bonus scheme for performance

Coursera/LinkedIn Learning access

Refer a friend bonus

Flexible benefits up to £500

Flexible/hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo is seeking a Lead Software Engineer with strong real-time embedded systems experience. You will lead and mentor teams, deliver reliable embedded software, and collaborate across hardware, firmware, and systems engineering to shape technical direction.

Ada training is available to enable impact from day one. The role emphasises leadership, design principles, and software engineering best practices in a learning-oriented environment with opportunities for career progression.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in embedded software development and real-time systems.
• Leadership experience with mentoring teams and guiding best practices.
• Knowledge of integration and requirements engineering for high-quality software.
• Familiarity with RTCA-DO178C or equivalent integrity frameworks.
• Experience with Object Orientation; Linux/VxWorks is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and integrate high-quality real-time embedded software for critical applications.
• Provide technical guidance and leadership to teams and promote best practices.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and systems engineering for multidisciplinary solutions.
• Develop leadership and mentoring skills in a learning-focused environment.
• Lead design principles emphasizing modularity, reuse, and industry best practices.

Skills

Embedded software development

Real-time systems

Leadership

Requirements engineering

Object Orientation

DO178C awareness

Ada training (desirable)

Tools

Linux

VxWorks

Job description

Job Description:

Your impact

We are on the lookout for talented Lead Software Engineers, if you have strong technical experience in real-time embedded systems and are eager to expand your skillset, leadership and decision-making capabilities, this role will provide the foundation for your growth.

We are happy to explore engineers from any embedded software background and provide Ada specific training so you can make an impact the moment you join.

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will:

• Deliver and integrate high-quality real-time embedded software, ensuring reliability in critical applications.
• Provide technical guidance and leadership, supporting teams in best practices, system integrity, and software development methodologies.
• Work closely with hardware, firmware, and systems engineering teams, contributing to multidisciplinary solutions.
• Develop your expertise in an environment that prioritises learning, mentorship, and career progression.
• Lead development approaches that emphasise design principles, modularity, reuse, and industry best practices, shaping technical direction while honing your leadership skills.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience in embedded software development, with a solid foundation in real-time systems.
• A strong understanding of integration and requirements engineering, ensuring high-quality software solutions.
• Leadership experience, with a willingness to mentor and guide teams toward best practices.
• Knowledge of industry standards, including RTCA-DO178C or equivalent integrity frameworks.
• Experience with Object Orientation, Linux/VXWorks (Desirable)—but adaptability, systems thinking, and leadership potential are key.

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, 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 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.

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:

Onsite