Principal/Lead Systems Engineer (Security)

Leonardo; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave and flexi-days

Award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Free mental health support and financial advice

Bonus scheme for eligible employees

Access to 4,000+ online courses

Financial reward through referral programme

Flexible benefits including healthcare and gym memberships

Flexible hours and hybrid working options

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company in Southampton is looking for a Principal/Lead Security Systems Engineer to be responsible for designing security-related functionalities for next-generation airborne communications systems. Candidates should have experience in military or civil communication systems and security protocols, as well as a graduate degree in a relevant field. This role offers the chance to work with international partners, and it provides generous leave, flexible working options, and an award-winning pension scheme.

Qualifications

• Experience in the development of military and/or civil communication systems.
• Experience in security protocols.
• Ability to produce detailed technical reports.
• Graduate degree in relevant engineering, mathematics or related scientific discipline.

Responsibilities

• Management of system requirements.
• Feasibility studies to determine system architecture.
• Modelling of security functionality.
• Producing clear and concise technical documentation.
• Support Project Engineering Lead in planning and reporting.
• Collaborate with project teams and customers.

Skills

Experience in military and/or civil communication systems

Experience in security protocols

Ability to produce detailed technical reports

Education

Graduate degree in relevant engineering, mathematics or related scientific discipline

Tools

Embedded systems

Firmware development

Job description

Principal/Lead Security Systems Engineer

Leonardo – Southampton, England, United Kingdom

Your impact

Are you a Systems Engineer who loves contributing to the UK’s Defence Industry and making impactful change? Leonardo has a fantastic opportunity for an Engineer to be responsible for the design and development of security related functionality required to support our next generation airborne communications system.

This role will involve engaging with other areas of the project, the project security function, international partners and the customer. You will be working on real engineering problems, designing and developing solutions that sit at the heart of our products.

The role will involve

• Management of system requirements.
• Feasibility studies to determine system architecture.
• Modelling of security functionality.
• Producing clear and concise technical documentation for your work.
• Support to the Project Engineering Lead to plan and develop work packages and subsequent reporting against these.
• Displaying good team working behaviours and taking responsibility to manage your own workload in conjunction with the team.
• Engaging with customers and suppliers as necessary.

Required

• Experience in the development of military and/or civil communication systems.
• Experience in security protocols.
• Ability to produce detailed technical reports.
• Graduate degree in relevant engineering, mathematics or related scientific discipline.

Ideally

• Knowledge of embedded system development.
• Knowledge of firmware development.
• Knowledge of UK high‑grade requirements.

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, which 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

• 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.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Contract Type

Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid

Job function

Other, Information Technology, and Engineering