Senior Systems Engineer (Networks)

Leonardo UK Ltd; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Coursera/LinkedIn Learning access

Referral programme

Private healthcare

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd is seeking a Network Systems Engineer to design, configure and support secure naval IP networks and virtual environments. The role blends remote work with on-site collaboration in support of a range of defence platforms.

You will work within an Integrated Project Team and report to the Project System Design Authority, delivering resilient network architectures across the full product lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of core networking concepts and protocols.
• Hands-on experience with network implementation, fault finding, and verification.
• Experience with COTS IP network equipment (Cisco) and virtual environment software.
• Knowledge of Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS and DHCP.

Responsibilities

• Designing and developing naval communication network solutions and architectures.
• Systems engineering across development lifecycle for networks and applications on naval platforms.
• Building network interfaces between communication systems and mission systems.
• Test definition, execution and fault finding across IP networks and hosted systems.
• Produce installation and commissioning guidance for networks and servers.

Skills

Networking concepts

Cisco IP gear

Virtual environment software

Windows Server/AD

Network security concepts

Tools

Windows Server

Active Directory

DNS

DHCP

Job description

Job Description

Do you want to grow your career in network engineering and work on projects that safeguard the UK’s national interests? At Leonardo, our Network Systems Engineers are at the heart of designing, configuring, and supporting secure networks that keep our customers connected and protected.

Your work at Leonardo UK will see you take the lead in meeting customer requirements. The role will involve a mixture of working from home and on site to ensure close collaboration with the wider team. When on site, this is an office- and integration laboratory-based role using network test equipment and a mix of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and military-off-the-shelf (MOTS) IP network and virtual environment technologies.

Your impact

Your work at Leonardo UK will see you significantly contributing to meeting customer requirements. The role will involve a mixture of working from home and on site to ensure close collaboration with the wider team. When on site, this is an office- and integration laboratory-based role using network test equipment and a mix of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and military-off-the-shelf (MOTS) IP network and virtual environment technologies.

The successful candidate would provide technical expertise within the Land and Naval domain of Leonardo UK with a focus on IP network and virtual environment technologies for, predominantly, communications systems on naval platforms.

The successful candidate will be working within an Integrated Project Team and be report to the Project System Design Authority. A Senior Systems Engineer for network engineering will work with the team to design, configure, implement, document, test and verify resilient network and server data architectures within some of the most demanding naval environments across the whole product lifecycle.

Once deployed, the day-to-day support of the networks is generally performed by the customer, with Leonardo UK providing spare equipment and design authority support (such as obsolescence management and approval of configuration changes).

Key Responsibility Areas

The successful candidate will work within the project engineering team and be responsible for:

• Designing and developing current and future naval communication network solutions and their implementation including contributing to network designs, development of logical and physical network architectures, definition of layer 2 and layer 3 architectures, production of routing, switching and segmentation strategies, allocation of communication services across network infrastructure.
• Aspects of systems engineering of new and existing networks and network applications embodied on naval platforms, working at all phases of the development lifecycle.
• Building network interfaces between communication systems, mission systems and other consumers.
• Test definition, test execution and fault finding across IP networks and hosted systems.
• Development of system installation and setting to work guidance.
• Working closely with customers through the verification and validation stages of projects to ensure systems meet their requirements and needs.

What you’ll bring

• Solid understanding of core networking concepts and protocols.

• Ability to work independently on defined work packages while collaborating effectively with wider teams.

• A proactive approach and willingness to learn new tools and technologies.

• Technical competence within the scope of the system and its technology.

Core areas (must have)

• Practical experience of network implementation, setting to work and verification including interfacing communication systems, fault finding, fault resolution, electrical safety and safe working practices.
• Demonstrable experience in the design and implementation of network management architectures including monitoring, fault, configuration, performance management, capacity planning and integration of network management systems.
• Experience of writing documentation in support of the design, configuration, implementation and verification of a network, for user information and interface control.
• Hands on experience in COTS IP network equipment (particularly Cisco), virtual environment software and server software, for example Windows server and Active Directory, DNS, DHCP.
• Understanding of network security concepts.

Desirable

• Experience in the use of Model Based Systems Engineering methodology.
• Experience in COTS virtual environment backup, network management and diagnostic software.
• Experience of communication system integration.
• Experience with user Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server software.
• Experience of all engineering lifecycle phases.

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 skills are a good attitude and a 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.

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 - Southampton

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid