Project Engineering Lead - Supplier Engagement

Leonardo; Newcastle; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexi days

Pension up to 15%

Mental health support

Bonus scheme

Online courses access

Referral bonus

Flexible benefits

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo is seeking a Project Engineering Lead to head a multi-disciplinary team focused on maturing PCB/PCA designs for the ECRS Mk2 programme in the UK (Edinburgh or Newcastle).

The role provides technical and operational leadership across Leonardo and key suppliers to improve manufacturing capability, yield, and production readiness, while driving Design for Manufacture and Design for Assembly best practices.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering, manufacturing, electronics, physics, or equivalent.
• Experience leading engineering teams or complex manufacturing projects.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers to improve quality and delivery.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and quality systems.
• Ability to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Experience leading supplier reviews, audits or performance improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ECRS Mk2 Supply Chain Improvement Team with governance.
• Develop a strategy for improving supplier quality, yield, throughput and production readiness.
• Interface between Leonardo, suppliers and internal stakeholders on manufacturability improvements.
• Drive root cause investigations and corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead supplier performance reviews focusing on yield, quality, capacity and schedule.
• Conduct supplier assessments, technical reviews and manufacturing readiness evaluations.
• Provide engineering leadership for manufacturing non-conformities and quality issues.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality and Programme teams.
• Promote Design for Manufacture (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA) and industrialisation best practice.

Skills

Leadership experience

Supplier quality improvement

Manufacturing processes knowledge

Root cause analysis

Supplier reviews & audits

Stakeholder management & communication

Self-motivated

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Job Description:

Your impact

Are you looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity to lead a skilled team in a time of significant growth in an AESA Radar sector, based in either our Edinburgh or Newcastle offices?

Leonardo is a global leader in defence electronics and delivers mission‑critical systems for situational awareness, electronic warfare and surveillance across land, sea and air. The Radar and Advanced Targeting line of business, based across Edinburgh and Newcastle, is uniquely positioned as one of the world’s top manufacturers of radars, lasers and infrared countermeasure systems with a rich heritage in engineering, with 100 years of pioneering development. The Secretary of State for Defence announced the UK European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 production contract during a visit to Leonardo Edinburgh in January 2026. We have an exciting opportunity to join the ECRS Mk2 programme at an early stage of its lifecycle. Based in either Edinburgh or Newcastle, you will have the opportunity to influence the successful delivery of equipment to the end user.

We are seeking a Project Engineering Lead (PEL) to lead a multi‑disciplinary engineering team responsible for maturing cutting‑edge PCB/PCA designs in the supply chain supporting the ECRS Mk2 Programme. Reporting directly to the Project Engineering Manager, this role will provide technical and operational leadership across Leonardo and strategic suppliers to improve manufacturing capability, yield, quality, throughput and production readiness.

As the PEL for the Supply Chain Improvement Team you will :

• Lead the ECRS Mk2 Supply Chain Improvement Team, providing direction, prioritisation and governance across supplier improvement, manufacturing maturity and industrialisation activities.
• Establish and deliver a strategy for improving supplier quality, yield, throughput, lead time and production readiness.
• Act as the primary engineering interface between Leonardo, strategic suppliers and internal stakeholders advising of improvements to design to aid manufacturing quality, schedule & cost
• Drive root cause investigations and robust corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead regular supplier performance reviews focused on yield, quality, capacity and schedule adherence.
• Conduct supplier assessments, technical reviews and manufacturing readiness evaluations.
• Provide engineering leadership for manufacturing non‑conformities and quality issues.
• Work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality and Programme teams.
• Drive Design for Manufacture (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA) and industrialisation best practice.
• Provide regular updates to the Project Engineering Manager, Chief Engineer, Programme Leadership Team and Head of Programmes.

What you’ll bring

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Electronics, Physics or equivalent technical discipline.
• Experience of leading engineering teams or complex manufacturing, industrialisation, NPI or supply chain work packages.
• Experience working with suppliers to improve quality, delivery and manufacturing capability.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to identify root causes and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Experience leading supplier reviews, audits or performance improvement activities.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to provide structure, focus and momentum within a challenging delivery environment.

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 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 - Edinburgh

Additional Locations:

GB - Newcastle

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid