Project Chief Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; Wickford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense firm is seeking a Chief Engineer / Systems Design Authority to join their NATO JEWCS Integrated Project Team. This hybrid role involves ensuring governance and quality in equipment delivery, engaging with customers to define technical solutions, and leading a multi-disciplined project team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in complex military products and excellent communication skills. A competitive salary and award-winning benefits await the successful candidate.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Access to private healthcare

Up to 45 days holiday

Award-winning pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted Gym membership

Free access to online courses

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a similar senior role.
• Ability to produce and develop innovative technical and system solutions.
• Experience of managing Design Standard and Configuration Management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure governance and quality for delivery of equipment.
• Represent the company while defining the technical solution.
• Work with development teams to meet End Users' needs.

Skills

Experience in development of complex military products

Knowledge of radar/communication and EW domains

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in a relevant Engineering or Scientific discipline

Job description

Overview

Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for a Chief Engineer / Systems Design Authority (SDA) to join its NATO JEWCS Integrated Project Team (IPT), within the CEMA and ICS Sector based across the south of the UK.

We are producing the next generation EW Training System assets covering Land/Sea and Air together with an IT infrastructure to enable effective planning, programming and review for NATO exercises.

Working on real engineering problems and supporting teams designing and developing solutions that sit at the heart of our products… Not to mention, we offer an award-winning package.

About the Role

As Chief Engineer, you will ensure the governance and quality for the delivery of the equipment and lead the technical direction of all aspects of the solution delivery including adherence to safety and security regulations and support including ILS training solutions. Responsibilities include:

• Be delegated by the business as the Design Authority & Company Technical Signatory for the required products.
• Represent, supported by Subject Matter Experts, the company when engaging with the customer and End User to define the technical solution.
• Ensure independent product assurance through Design Reviews and ensuring company procedures are adhered to.
• Be responsible for delivered product design, compliance, safety and integrity.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplined project team in close partnership with key stakeholders.

This role will see the successful candidate join the quickly expanding engineering team within the CEMA and ICS sector and take on a key role in shaping the future of the NATO JEWCS deployed solution combining use of COTS with the latest technologies and ensuring that they meet the needs of the customer. Day to day duties include:

• Own the technical solution for all phases of the solution development by representing Leonardo with external stakeholders and representing the Line of Business with internal stakeholders to ensure all elements of Product development are considered as part of the integrated solution.
• Work closely with development teams and supply chain to ensure that the overall solution meets the End Users need by understanding their requirements and Concept of Use and Operation.
• Ensure the products are compliant with any performance, legislative and contractual requirements, with a strategy for completing a traceable evidence set in place.
• Ensure robust quality, performance, cost and time trade-offs are undertaken and then to establish the technical solution coherent with the agreed budgets and timescales.
• Ensure a high-level strategy for requirements matched to traceable evidence is set in place and executed consistently across the products and projects.

This is a hybrid role, with expectations to work out of our site in Basildon, Southampton or Luton around 2 days per week.

About You

You will have proven experience in a similar senior role and a solid working knowledge of Radar or Comms.

Essential Experience:

• A strong background in development of complex military products
• Have experience in developing systems solutions particularly with the radar/communication and EW domains.
• Experience of working with Requirements, Test Qualification and Acceptance strategies.
• Experience of managing the Design Standard and associated Configuration Management.
• Experience in gaining Design Certification and Customer Acceptance.
• Have the ability to produce and develop innovative technical and system solutions, compliant with requirements within agreed programme budgets and timescales.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to be able to interact with SMEs and End Users of various nationalities regarding a wide range of technical and operational topics.
• Be a self-motivated leader and team player capable of working with minimum direction.

Desirable Experience:

• Knowledge of use of EW equipment in the customer domain
• Knowledge of Training Development
• Knowledge of Software Development
• Degree qualified in a relevant Engineering or Scientific discipline (or equivalent)
• Chartered engineer / member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Have substantial analytical and technical problem solving skills.

Due to the nature of the projects, candidates will need to hold a UK passport (dual nationality from a NATO country may also be acceptable). All successful applicants must be eligible for full security clearance and access to UK-caveated and ITAR controlled information. For more information and guidance, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

What We Offer

A competitive salary based on your experience and skills and an award-winning benefits package that includes:

• Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us.
• Company funded flexible benefits: Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance).
• Holidays: Up to 45 days holiday! …25 days, plus bank holidays and opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year. There is also an option to buy/sell leave.
• Pension: Award winning pension scheme (up to 15% employer contribution)
• Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers)
• Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme
• Training: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera
• Bonus Scheme: (role dependent)

For a full list of our Company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 8,000 are based at 8 sites throughout the UK

Primary Location: GB - Basildon

Additional Locations: GB - Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid