Senior Software Engineering Leader - Strategy & Change

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to Recharge

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Bonus scheme

access to online courses (Coursera/LL

Job summary

Leonardo Electronic Warfare seeks an outstanding engineering leader to shape the future of software engineering across one of the UK's most advanced defence technology businesses. You will lead a community of approximately 180 software engineers across Luton, Lincoln and Bristol, accountable for capability, performance and long‑term evolution of Software Engineering within EW.

You will work with Chief Engineers, Product Architects and Business stakeholders to deliver today’s commitments and

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading software engineering functions through senior managers and technical leaders.
• Experience translating engineering strategy into measurable business outcomes.
• Success driving organisational transformation and improving engineering performance at scale.
• Strong leadership with focus on developing people and future leaders.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across engineering, programme and business communities.
• Experience balancing near-term delivery with long-term capability development.
• Strong commercial awareness including workforce planning and budget management.
• Experience operating in complex, highly regulated engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a software engineering community across multiple sites.
• Define and execute the Software Engineering strategy for Electronic Warfare.
• Build a high-performing organisation with clear succession pipelines and leadership development.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering effectiveness, quality, productivity and delivery.
• Champion modern software engineering practices, digital technologies, automation, DevSecOps and AI-enabled approaches.
• Establish a culture of technical excellence, accountability, learning and innovation.
• Shape software technology, process and toolchain roadmaps with leadership partners.
• Ensure capability and capacity to meet future business demand.
• Provide governance, assurance and functional leadership across EW portfolio.
• Represent EW Software Engineering within Leonardo UK and the broader engineering community.

Skills

Software leadership

Strategy translation

Organisational transformation

Stakeholder influence

Job description

Leonardo Electronic Warfare seeks an outstanding engineering leader to shape the future of software engineering across one of the UK's most advanced defence technology businesses. You will lead a community of approximately 180 software engineers across Luton, Lincoln and Bristol, accountable for capability, performance and long‑term evolution of Software Engineering within EW.

You will work with Chief Engineers, Product Architects and Business stakeholders to deliver today’s commitments and