Senior / Principal Systems Engineer – Airborne Networks

Leonardo UK Ltd; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible leave and flexi-days

Award-winning pension with up to 15%

Mental health support and wellbeing

Access to 4,000+ online courses

Refer a friend bonus

Flexible benefits up to £500

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd is seeking a Systems/Research Engineer to research, investigate, and develop approaches for airborne network design. You will design, simulate, and analyse networking technologies, presenting results to the team and international partners.

The role requires a strong background in networking, programming (Python/C++), and the ability to translate theory into practical simulations. Hybrid working with a focus on collaboration within an international context.

Qualifications

• Experience in networks research or advanced academic research.
• Ability to design simulations and interpret results.
• Strong programming skills in Python or C++.

Responsibilities

• Research meshed, ad-hoc, and other network technologies.
• Design and document proposed protocols for standardisation of networking technologies.
• Design simulations and models for potential networking technologies and present to team and international partners.
• Implement simulations and analyse results for reporting to leaders and IPT members.

Skills

Networking fundamentals

Python/C++

Simulation design

Interpersonal communication

Education

Engineering or Computer Science degree

Masters/PhD or equivalent

Tools

ns-3

Job description

Job Description:

Are you a Systems or Research Engineer who loves contributing to or wishes to contribute to the UKs Defence Industry and making impactful change? We are recruiting for a someone to research, investigate and develop different approaches for the design of airborne networks. This includes researching, proposing, and analysing the results of simulations to design and create standardisation proposals.

Your impact

Our Systems Engineers span across range of activities that help pull together all the necessary engineering and technology strands into a high-performance system. As a Systems Engineer, you will bridge the gap between the theoretically possible and the practically implementable.

Typical work you might be involved in:

• Research into meshed, ad-hoc, and other network technologies


• Designing and documenting proposed protocols for standardisation of networking technologies


• Proposing and designing simulations & model for potential networking technologies, presenting your ideas to team colleagues and international partners


• Implementing simulations and analysing & documenting the results


• Providing regular reporting to the Project Engineering Lead (PEL) and other Integrated Project Team (IPT) members

What you'll bring

Proven experience as a Systems or Research Engineer experienced within a working environment or advanced academic research is a must. Ideally, you will have a engineering-based or science-based Honours degree, Masters, PhD, or equivalent experience.

Required

• Related Engineering, Computer Science degree, Masters, PhD, or similar.


• Knowledge of networking fundamentals, including network protocols, routing algorithms, and their use cases.


• Software engineering techniques, including Python or C++ programming.


• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate ideas to varied audiences.


• The ability to design meaningful simulations and interpret the results.

Optional

• Experience of tactical communication technologies & solutions


• Knowledge of system engineering principles and model-based systems engineering, or equivalent research


• Knowledge of common network simulation tools (ns-3 is highly desired)


• Knowledge of Protocol Design and Algorithm Design


• Knowledge of ad-hoc networking, particularly within the sub-domain of FANETs


• Matlab Experience, possibly with Simulink Experience

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 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.

Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment.

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 security.

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 - Southampton

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid