Software Engineer (Data)

Leonardo UK Ltd; Easter Howgate; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company in Scotland seeks an experienced Software Engineer to design and implement core data services ensuring high performance across the organization. Ideal candidates will have strong problem-solving skills, experience in data pipeline maintenance, and be proficient in backend languages like Go or Python. The role supports hybrid working and emphasizes a commitment to employee development through comprehensive benefits and continuous learning opportunities.

Benefits

Generous leave with additional flexi-days

Award-winning pension scheme

Free mental health and financial support

Bonus scheme available

Access to online courses

Financial reward for referrals

Flexible benefits spending

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience as a data or software engineer in a similar role.
• Strong understanding of data services and data integrity.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and containerisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and implementation of scaling strategies.
• Design and implement secure, asynchronous mechanisms for data migration.
• Collab with data scientists and IT on various projects.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Technical expertise in data pipelines

Experience with SQL and NoSQL

Proficient in DataOps methodologies

Proficiency in backend languages like Go, Java, or Python

Education

Degree in STEM or similar field

Data engineering certification (e.g., IBM Certified Data Engineer)

Tools

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Spark

Airflow

Hive

Job description

Job Description

Your impact

At Leonardo we are looking for an experienced Software Engineer (Data team). You will design and implement core, reusable data services that ensure high performance and scalability across the organization. A primary focus is on integrating new, highly scalable persistence layers with complex existing/legacy systems while guaranteeing data integrity and consistency.

What you’ll bring

To succeed in this position, you should have strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to combine data from different sources. The engineering skills include familiarity with several programming languages.

Key areas of responsibility

• Lead the architecture and implementation of scaling strategies for diverse data stores, including sharding relational (SQL) and horizontal scaling for NoSQL databases.
• Design and build reusable Data Access Layers (DALs) to enforce standardised data interaction, security, and quality across all application services.
• Apply deep expertise in data modelling (Relational, Document, Graph) to select and optimise the correct database technology for specific product use cases.
• Design and implement secure, asynchronous mechanisms (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ) for consuming, translating, and migrating data from legacy systems into modern data models.
• Develop robust migration strategies and tooling for performing large‑scale data movements and system retrofits with near zero downtime.
• Define and govern internal data APIs (REST, gRPC) to provide a consistent, high‑performance interface, abstracting the multi‑database complexity.
• Integration & Messaging: Strong experience with message brokers (e.g., Kafka, SQS) for building event‑driven and decoupled integration patterns.
• Collaborate with data scientists, IT and architects on several projects

About You

Successful Candidates will have previous experience as a data or software engineer in a similar role.

Attributes required include

• Technical expertise in designing, building, and maintaining data pipelines, data warehouses, and leveraging data services.
• Expert‑level, hands‑on experience in the design, tuning, and scaling of SQL (e.g., PostgreSQL) and diverse NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra) environments.
• Proficient in DataOps methodologies and tools, including experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerisation, and workflow orchestration.
• Proficiency in a high‑performance backend language (e.g., Go, Java, Python) and demonstrated track record in managing large‑scale system retrofitting and data migrations.
• Familiar with ETL/ELT frameworks, and experienced with Big Data Processing Tools (e.g. Spark, Airflow, Hive, etc.)
• Degree in STEM, or similar field; a Master’s is a plus
• Data engineering certification (e.g IBM Certified Data Engineer) is a plus

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 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 - Edinburgh

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid