Project Engineering Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global aerospace and defense company is looking for a Test Solutions Engineering Manager in the Combat Air Sector. This permanent role involves managing a multi-disciplinary engineering team to ensure the delivery of projects with high technical quality while adhering to schedules and budgets. You will develop strategies for Combat Air Test Solutions, forging positive relationships with customers and managing internal communications. Candidates should have leadership experience, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of test engineering.

Benefits

Generous leave with up to 12 additional flexi-days

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

Free access to mental health support and financial advice

Bonus scheme for performance

Free access to online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

Referral programme rewards

Flexible benefits including private healthcare and gym memberships

Flexible working hours with hybrid options

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Test Engineering, Hardware and Software.
• Ability to produce clear concise engineering plans.
• Good problem-solving ability.
• Good schedule and budget control.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercially aware.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, across multiple sites.
• Strong leadership competency but also can demonstrate team-working skills.
• Knowledge of engineering lifecycle and business process.
• Willingness to travel within the UK & Europe.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Engineering aspects of the Project, ensuring technical quality, schedule and budget.
• Manage cross-site, multi-disciplined engineering teams, clarifying roles.
• Create positive relationships with customers and partners to deliver project capability.
• Establish good communication internally across the Engineering IPT.
• Work with Systems Design Authority on technical progress and risks.
• Ensure design solutions meet end user requirements.
• Control project configuration and change management.

Skills

Test Engineering knowledge

Clear engineering plans

Problem-solving ability

Schedule and budget control

Written and verbal communication skills

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder communication

Leadership competency

Team-working skills

Knowledge of engineering lifecycle

Education

Engineering or scientific Degree qualification

Job description

Overview

Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for a Test Solutions Engineering Manager in the Combat Air Sector.

You will join the engineering team on a permanent basis to cover an exciting and growing Integrated Project Team. This role will lead and manage a multi-disciplinary engineering team to deliver the projects. The Engineering Manager will provide the engineering leadership and management in collaboration with the Chief Engineer and Senior Engineering Manager, to identify, develop, deliver and support the technical solution.

What you’ll bring

As an Engineering Manager in Combat Air, you will be responsible for development, maintenance and enhancements of the Combat Air Test Solutions.

This includes, but not limited to, owning, developing and executing the strategy required to enable the Test Solutions to meet the sectors long term Business Plan in line with the Product Maturity & Capability Roadmap, Production Needs and Support requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leading the Engineering aspects of the Project, ensuring technical quality, schedule and budget
• Management of cross-site, multi-disciplined engineering teams, ensuring that roles within the teams are clearly defined
• Create a positive working relationship with customers and partners, to deliver project capability
• Establish and maintain good lines of communication internally across the Engineering IPT, with the IPT lead, Project Manager, functional heads
• Work closely with the Systems Design Authority ensuring they are fully informed on technical progress, technical risk and any mitigation strategies
• Ensuring the design solution meets the end user requirement, is reliable, fully documented and works within its designated environment
• Ensure the design solution is compatible with the business area route map
• Control project configuration and change management to ensure design reuse is maximised.
• Support the management of Suppliers and project Make or Buy decisions
• Candidate concept solutions are captured, including the results of any trade off studies and end user engagement
• Line Management
• Travel within the UK/Europe.

What we need from you

You really must have:

• Knowledge of Test Engineering, Hardware and Software
• Ability to produce clear concise engineering plans
• Good problem-solving ability.
• Good schedule and budget control.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercially aware.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, across multiple sites.
• Strong leadership competency but also can demonstrate team-working skills.
• Knowledge of engineering lifecycle and business process.
• Willingness to travel within the UK & Europe

Nice to have

• The military domain
• Requirements elicitation and defining software and hardware products
• New Product Introduction
• Engineering or scientific Degree qualification (or equivalent)

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.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location: GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Hybrid Working: Hybrid

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid