Principal Systems Engineer (Trials)

Leonardo SpA; Luton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to Recharge

Pension scheme (up to 15% employer)

Mental health support

Bonus scheme

Access to 4,000+ online courses

Refer a friend

Flexible benefits up to £500

Hybrid working options

Job summary

Leonardo UK seeks experienced engineers for hands-on integration, testing and trials of EW systems. You will conduct ground and flight test trials, support bid teams, and lead installation and commissioning on end-user platforms.

Security screening applies, with on-site work in Luton and potential hybrid arrangements. The role emphasizes electronics, system integration and testing expertise, plus strong IT skills and a customer-focused approach.

Qualifications

• Experience in electronics industry, supporting Leonardo products or field and trial support is desirable.
• Background in electronics, system integration, testing or qualification.
• Strong customer focus and IT skills including diagnostic tools and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Support Bid Teams to ensure trials requirements are captured in full.
• Produce costings for Trials.
• Review existing trial requirements against budget figures or constraints.
• Review Products against platform environments.
• Support the Leonardo Design Review process.
• Support Vendor Certification.
• Support Testing during development and deliveries.
• Produce all relevant Trials Documentation (Trials Plans, ICDs, Installation Procedures, User Manuals, Risk Assessments, Ground Test Schedules, Air Test Schedules, Trials Instruction, Trials Reports and Lessons Learned).
• Lead the installation of Products on to end user platforms.
• Lead the commissioning and acceptance phases after delivery.
• Provide Trials support during trials conducted on land, air and sea.
• Book Test Ranges as required with relevant authorities.
• Confirm trials against proposed plans.
• Supply trials data for analysis.
• Participate in Trials (up to 3 weeks per activity).

Skills

Electronics engineering

System integration

Testing/qualification

Customer focus

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

MS Office

Diagnostic tools

Job description

Your Impact

If you're interested in getting hands‑on with the latest Electronic Warfare technology and supporting its implementation around the world, we need someone to conduct Integration, Ground and Flight Test trials of equipment in both early‑phase and operational trials. As a member of the team, you'll conduct Integration, Ground and Flight Test trials of Leonardo EW Systems. During periods where no field trials are occurring, technical support will be provided to the likes of Systems Engineering work within the IPT, as required.

What you'll do

• Support Bid Teams to make sure that the trials requirements are captured in full


• Produce costings for Trials


• Review existing trial requirements against budget figures or constraints


• Review Products against platform environments


• Support the Leonardo Design Review process


• Support Vendor Certification


• Support Testing during development and deliveries


• Produce all relevant Trials Documentation (Trials Plans, ICD's, Installation Procedures, User Manuals, Risk Assessments, Ground Test Schedules, Air Test Schedules, Trials Instruction, Trials Reports and Lessons Learned)


• Lead the installation of Products on to end user platforms


• Lead the commissioning and acceptance phases after delivery


• Provide Trials support (Platform Integrator, Trials Co‑Ordinator, Trials Operator or Trials Observer) during trials conducted on land, air and sea


• Book Test Ranges as required with relevant authorities


• Confirm trials against proposed plans


• Supply trials data for analysis


• Participate in Trials (up to 3 weeks per activity)

What you'll bring

• For this role, we're looking for experienced Engineers with a background in electronics, system integration, testing or qualification and with a strong customer focus.


• You will also require strong IT skills including the use of diagnostic tools and MS Office.


• Experience within the Electronics industry, supporting Leonardo products, or in field and trial support is desirable, but not essential.


• 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) also apply, including 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

Salary Range

• Senior Engineer £45,000 - £60,000


• Principal Engineer £55,000 - £70,000

Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment.

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.

This work will require on‑site working at our facility in Luton.

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.

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

Onsite