Senior Project Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Caddington; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence company is looking for a Senior or Lead Project Manager in Luton. You will lead project teams, develop detailed plans, manage budgets, and ensure stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate will have experience in project management and a passion for growth. Join a dynamic team offering extensive benefits such as flexible working, bonuses, and professional development opportunities. Be part of a global leader committed to innovation and diversity.

Benefits

Generous leave policy

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Free access to mental health support

Bonus scheme for employees

Free access to 4,000+ online courses

Referral programme financial reward

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in Project Management and commitment towards learning and development.
• Experience in early phase development projects.
• Leading complex engineering projects.
• Managing a varied internal and external stakeholder community.
• Coaching, mentoring, and developing staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear leadership and direction for the project team.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans.
• Manage internal investment budgets and track expenditure.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and opportunities.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive early life cycle activities and concept development.
• Produce accurate and timely project reports.
• Ensure adherence to industry standards and quality requirements.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder engagement

Team Management

Risk Management

Budget Management

Job description

Job Description:

Your Impact:

We are looking for a talented and passionate Senior or Lead Project Manager at Leonardo in Luton.

Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 7,000 are based in the UK.

This role is part of the EW Line of Business within the Electronics Division of Leonardo. The Division designs, builds and manufactures complex electronic systems and services for the global defence market.

You don't need to have experience in defence systems; we embrace skilled people from all industries and will support the development of your skills and knowledge.

You will join a dynamic team developing solutions for new and existing platforms. You will be responsible for:

• Project Leadership & Governance
  Provide clear leadership and direction for the project team, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and governance frameworks.
• Planning & Scheduling
  Develop and maintain detailed project plans, including scope, schedule, and resource allocation for early lifecycle activities.
• Budget & Financial Control
  Manage internal investment budgets, track expenditure, and ensure financial performance aligns with approved forecasts.
• Risk & Opportunity Management
  Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and opportunities, maintaining a robust risk register and contingency plans.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring transparency and timely updates on project status.
• Lifecycle Management
  Drive early life cycle activities, such as concept development, feasibility studies, and requirements definition.
• Reporting & Metrics
  Produce accurate and timely project reports, including progress, cost, schedule, and risk metrics for senior leadership.
• Compliance & Quality Assurance
  Ensure adherence to industry standards, internal processes, and quality requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Resource & Team Management
  Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage resource conflicts, and foster collaboration.
• Change Control
  Implement and manage formal change control processes to maintain scope integrity and manage impacts on cost and schedule.

What you'll bring:

• Demonstrated experience in Project Management and commitment towards learning and development
• Experience in early phase development projects
• Leading complex engineering projects
• Managing a varied internal and external stakeholder community
• Coaching, mentoring and developing staff
• Developing high performing teams
• Personal attributes and values are just as important to us as technical ability

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.
• 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

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid