Project Leader

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Private healthcare

Dental coverage

Family cover

Tech & lifestyle discounts

Gym memberships

Flexible benefits allowance

Job summary

Leonardo in the United Kingdom is seeking a Project Leader for the IDAS team in Luton. You will coordinate cross-functional work, support governance and reporting, and help deliver advanced defensive systems across multiple programmes to enhance operational effectiveness.

You will work with engineering and customer stakeholders, maintain project controls, and contribute to continuous improvement while navigating security clearances and a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Experience in a project support or project coordinator role within engineering, aerospace, defence, or similarly complex environments.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Experience of supporting project planning, reporting or governance activities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Awareness of project management disciplines including schedule management, risk management and project controls.
• APM qualification (or working towards one) is desirable but not essential.
• Knowledge of Defensive Aids Systems is advantageous but not required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project schedules, actions and deliverables, helping to ensure projects remain on track against agreed milestones.
• Support the management of risks, opportunities and issues, ensuring they are recorded, monitored and escalated where appropriate.
• Assist with the preparation of project reports, governance reviews and customer deliverables.
• Work closely with engineering, business functions and customer stakeholders to facilitate effective communication and project execution.
• Support financial tracking and performance reporting activities across the project.
• Maintain project documentation, plans and records to support effective project control.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance programme delivery, efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Project coordination

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Project planning

Governance reporting

Communication skills

APM qualification

Defensive Aids Systems knowledge

Job description

Your Impact

Do you want to play a key role in delivering advanced defensive systems across multiple airborne platforms, such as A400M and NMH? As a Project Leader within the Integrated Defensive Aids System (IDAS) team, you will support the delivery of critical capability across various programmes.

Job Description

Based in Luton, you will work within a collaborative, cross-functional environment helping coordinate work package delivery and supporting the successful introduction of new IDAS solutions into service to ensure the operational effectiveness of the war fighter.

What You Will Do As Project Leader – IDAS

• Coordinate project schedules, actions and deliverables, helping to ensure projects remain on track against agreed milestones.
• Support the management of risks, opportunities and issues, ensuring they are recorded, monitored and escalated where appropriate.
• Assist with the preparation of project reports, governance reviews and customer deliverables.
• Work closely with engineering, business functions and customer stakeholders to facilitate effective communication and project execution.
• Support financial tracking and performance reporting activities across the project.
• Maintain project documentation, plans and records to support effective project control.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance programme delivery, efficiency and customer satisfaction.

What You’ll Bring

To succeed in this role, you will bring a structured and proactive approach, strong collaboration skills, and a desire to develop within complex defence programmes.

Essential Skills And Experience Include

• Experience in a project support or project coordinator role within engineering, aerospace, defence, or similarly complex environments.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Experience of supporting project planning, reporting or governance activities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Awareness of project management disciplines including schedule management, risk management and project controls.
• APM qualification (or working towards one) is desirable but not essential.
• Knowledge of Defensive Aids Systems, is advantageous but not required.

This is not an exhaustive list. We welcome candidates who are motivated to learn, take ownership, and grow their careers within a supportive and dynamic project environment.

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

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.

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 - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type

Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid