Solution Architect - Land CEMA

Leonardo; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 97,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave with flexi-days

Award-winning pension scheme

Access to mental health support

Bonus scheme for performance

Free online courses

Financial rewards through referral programmes

Flexible benefits package

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Leonardo is seeking a Solutions Architect to contribute to the UK’s Defence Industry, enhancing strategic direction in Land CEMA. This hybrid role will leverage your expertise in Defence Communication and CEMA, ensuring resilient and efficient solutions for client needs.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong STEM background, proven experience in CEMA, and the ability to translate customer requirements into technical solutions. Join us and be part of something bigger.

Qualifications

• Proven background in CEMA or Defence Communication applications.
• Experience estimating costs and technical risks.
• Familiarity with open systems architectures.

Responsibilities

• Architect and deliver CEMA capabilities.
• Engage directly with customers, translating needs into solutions.
• Lead technical input to bids, producing architectures and requirements.

Skills

CEMA

Defence Communication

Analytical skills

Technical customer engagement

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in a STEM subject

Tools

Cameo

Rhapsody

System Architect

The Mathworks

Job description

Are you a Solutions Architect who loves contributing to the UK’s Defence Industry and making impactful change? Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for someone with a background in Defence Communications or Cyber & Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) to enhance the leadership and strategic direction of its work in Land CEMA to support UK and international customers.

Location

Hybrid role based at either Southampton, Basildon or Bristol.

Role Overview

The Solutions Architect plays a pivotal part in delivering the Land CEMA portfolio, shaping enterprise and system‑level solution designs. The role is key to ensuring resilient, modular, and scalable solutions for future customer needs and operating environments. Operating at the intersection of strategy, engineering and business development, the architect collaborates with colleagues across disciplines, engages customers, partners and industry stakeholders to build enduring relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain high awareness of all relevant developments around Land CEMA Architecture (Standards for Integrated C5ISR/EW Systems) (LCA (STICS)).
• Architect and deliver CEMA capabilities across enterprise and system levels, ensuring interoperability, resilience, and customer value.
• Shape technical and commercial strategy by evaluating alternative approaches, balancing bespoke development with Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) integration.
• Lead technical input to bids and campaigns, producing architectures, requirements, and cost estimates that drive competitive advantage.
• Engage directly with customers and partners, translating operational needs into clear technical solutions and building trusted long‑term relationships.
• Generate thought leadership through white papers, studies, and stakeholder engagement, influencing future defence programmes and market direction.
• Support recruitment and mentoring, building a pipeline of engineering talent and fostering innovation.
• Represent the organisation internationally, strengthening reputation and expanding market presence through B2B collaboration and strategic partnerships.

What You’ll Bring

You will have a proven background within CEMA or Defence Communication applications and working at Solutions Architect or similar level.

Required Qualifications

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in a STEM subject with strong numerical, analytical and design skills.
• Significant experience developing communications, Electronic Warfare (EW) / CEMA and/or other vehicle mission systems‑based architectures, products and systems throughout the full lifecycle.
• Experience dealing with customers at a senior commercial and technical level.
• Experience estimating costs and technical risk for each solution approach.
• Experience of full life cycle for product and system development – concept through to disposal.
• Familiarity with open systems architectures such as Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), LCA, GVA, OpenVPX, Modular Open Radio Frequency (RF) Architecture (MORA), OpenCPI, VITA.
• Experience of formal user requirements capture, traceability and compliance management methodology and tools.
• Experience of military electronic systems including an understanding of interoperability, operational use cases and customer needs.
• Knowledge of military communications architectures and principles.
• Experience of relevant tools such as Cameo, Rhapsody, System Architect and The Mathworks.
• Experience of military command and control networks in the Land and Maritime context.
• Experience of methodology and production of the engineering documentation necessary to support a competitive tender.
• Experience working in a consultancy type role.

Desired Attributes

• Ability to understand customer’s business / technical needs and translate them into a technical solution using language customers can understand.
• Excellent problem‑solving and innovation skills.
• Strategic mindset to drive an organisation towards short‑term goals and long‑term strategy.
• Motivating and communicating – including the ability to empower and influence others.
• Challenging and continuously improving.
• Ability to work in a multi‑organisational team.
• Ability to present at all levels, both internally & externally.
• Proactive, self‑starter, comfortable working with ambiguous or ill‑defined requirements.

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, which could include meeting 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.

Salary

£67,000 to £97,500. 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.

Benefits

• 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.

Contract Details

Primary Location: GB – Basildon

Additional Locations: GB – Bristol – Coldharbour Lane, GB – Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid

Be part of something bigger – apply now!