Project Engineering Manager - Test Solutions

Leonardo; Basildon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Learning & development access via Cour

Refer a friend reward

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking a Project Engineering Manager to lead the Test Engineering team in Basildon, supporting three business areas and coordinating a multi-disciplinary engineering effort to deliver test solutions.

You will own the test capability strategy, manage day-to-day tasks, liaise with Design Authorities and customers, and ensure solutions meet user needs, are documented, and aligned with the product roadmap.

Qualifications

• Degree in Science/Technology/Engineering/Math or equivalent experience.
• Experience with test solutions in a high-tech environment.
• Ability to produce clear engineering plans.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience with schedule and budget control.
• Commercial awareness and stakeholder management.
• Proven leadership with collaborative teamwork across sites.

Responsibilities

• Establish and prioritise forward load requirements; translate into test strategies and delivery plans.
• Lead day-to-day tasks of a multi-disciplinary engineering team; define roles.
• Build strong relationships with customers and partners to deliver capabilities.
• Communicate progress, risks and mitigation with IPT leads and engineering leadership.
• Ensure design solutions meet end-user requirements, are reliable and well-documented.
• Support Make/Buy decisions and supplier management; capture concept solutions.

Job description

Your Impact Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for a Project Engineering Manager to join the Test Engineering team, within the ISP sector, supporting three business areas: Comms and Force Protection, Mission Systems and Sensors. With a growing portfolio of development projects, this opportunity has become available. You will join the test engineering team on a permanent basis to lead & coordinate the Test Solution Delivery activities. This role will lead the tasking of a multi-disciplinary engineering team to deliver the projects. The Engineering Manager will provide the engineering leadership and management in collaboration with the Technical Lead, to identify, develop, deliver and support the technical solution.

What you’ll do as an Engineering Manager

As a Project Engineering Manager in Test Engineering, you will be responsible for development, maintenance and enhancements of test capability to meet the needs of the product line. This includes, but is not limited to, owning, developing and executing the strategy required to enable the test equipment to meet the Sector long term Business Plan in line with the Product Maturity & Capability Roadmap, Production Needs and Support requirements.

Typical day to day tasks includes:

• Initially required to establish and prioritise forward load requirements and expand on the current multi-discipline team of permanent staff and outsourced resource, as required, to translate requirements into test strategies, implementation plans and final delivered solutions.
• Management of the day-to-day project tasks of a multi-disciplined engineering team, 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’s, with the IPT leads, Project Managers, functional heads.
• Work closely with the Design Authorities and Systems Design Authorities (Chief Engineers) ensuring they are fully informed on technical progress, technical risk and any mitigation strategies.
• Ensuring the design solutions meet the end user requirement, is reliable, fully documented and works within its designated environment.
• Ensure the design solution is compatible with the business area product road 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.

What we need from you

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge Required

• Degree qualified in a relevant Science / Technology / Engineering / Maths discipline or similar experience.
• Good knowledge of Test Solutions in a high tech environment, utilising common systems (where appropriate) to develop an end to end solution.
• Ability to produce clear concise engineering plans.
• Good problem-solving ability.
• Good schedule and budget control.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercial awareness.
• 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.

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge that would be Desirable

• Experience in the military domain.
• Requirements elicitation and experience of projects involving software development.
• Development and certification of military equipment.
• New Product Introduction.
• Experience of electro-optic or RF products.
• 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 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.

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 - Basildon

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid