Systems Engineer (Lead and Chief)

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

Job summary

A leading defence company is seeking a Lead/Chief Systems Engineer to oversee Systems Engineering governance and enhance engineering capabilities. You will direct projects across complex domains and ensure effective stakeholder communication. The successful candidate will thrive in dynamic environments, possess robust leadership skills, and have experience in Systems Engineering methodologies. This role offers a hybrid working model and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Generous leave with flexi-days

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Free access to mental health support

Free online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

Financial rewards for referrals

Flexible benefits up to £500 annually

Hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Lead/Chief Engineer.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders.
• Experience in a high complexity, dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and governance for Systems Engineering.
• Influence the development of Engineering artefacts.
• Support Lifecycle Management activities.

Skills

Governance and guidance on Systems Engineering LCM process

Leadership and decision-making skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Motivation, tenacity and determination

Tools

Model Driven Engineering tool

Model Based Systems Engineering tools

Job description

Job Description

Job Description:

Are you a Systems Engineer who loves contributing to the UK's Defence Industry and making impactful change? We are recruiting for a number of Lead/Chief Systems Engineers from a variety of backgrounds and skillsets, working on real engineering problems, designing and developing solutions that sit at the heart of our products. This exciting opportunity is based at our dedicated sites in Southampton or Basildon sites.

As the Lead/Chief Systems Engineer you will act as the focal point for Systems Engineering Governance and trend our Systems Engineering capability in a positive direction. You will support Systems Engineering capability and improvement matters across the Business Areas, providing proactive guidance to senior stakeholders on Systems Thinking and Methods for adoption that aligns with successful project execution.

What we build is exciting, interesting, challenging and complex. A diverse product portfolio of technologies, with each programme at a different stage in its development lifecycle. Given this complexity, it requires each programme to connect with the “Art of Systems Engineering” to ensure we are doing the right activities at the right time.

The focus of this role is to provide direction, guidance and expertise to ensure that Systems Engineering Team:

• Assess the problem completely
• Reuse techniques and artefacts across the portfolio of projects
• Manage complexity through architecting our systems well
• Predict and mitigate emergent behaviours when operating at a system or integrated systems level
• Create and enact the correct verification and validation strategy

To be successful you will demonstrate passion for your trade by instilling a systems-thinking approach based on experience forming and leading high performing teams. Using your skills as an influencer, you will thrive in dynamic environments, with the ability to make decisions quickly under pressure and set a clear technical vision for the team on Systems Engineering methodologies.

Given the extensive people engagement nature of the work, we are still able to offer custom working that allows for a combination of home and on-site working i.e. flexible working delivering effective results. Day to day duties include:

• Influence the development of Engineering artefacts, their technical direction and ultimately stakeholder satisfaction
• You will work across a highly demanding and complex area of the business, immersed in full-scale development programmes spanning the breadth of the engineering lifecycle across the ISR and Force Protection teams
• Act as the focal point for systems engineering governance, supporting Lifecycle Management (LCM) activities
• Provide expertise and guidance to ensure our engineers understand the problem completely and stakeholder needs through effective coaching on Systems Engineering practices (early and later lifecycle stages)
• Ensure the appropriate level of concepting, modelling and simulation techniques are used across the lifecycle to inform architectures and solution options
• Influence whole life design considerations relating to Safety, Security, Manufacture, Test, Supportability, Through Life Support in line with company processes
• Support quarterly threat and mitigation reviews across the Business Area’s on project status and enabling initiatives (e.g. capability, capacity, competency)
• Represent Leonardo within Systems Engineering bodies and groups of interest, such as INCOSE
• Identify trends across the Business Area’s, capturing and sharing lessons learned to improve the quality and efficiency of future work
• Promote an agile mind-set to systems engineering, building a culture of experimentation and failing fast
• Collaborate with your peers in similar roles across the UK to promote a culture of continual learning and improvement, acting as a change agent for systems engineering

What you’ll bring

You will have proven experience as a Lead/Chief Engineer (or role with similar responsibilities), with the following attributes:

• Applying governance and guidance on Systems Engineering LCM process
• Working in Integrated Project Teams delivering Engineering artefacts successfully
• Eliciting stakeholder expectations
• Creating and defining architectures
• Managing and collaborating with internal/external stakeholders
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high complexity, dynamic environment at a senior level
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at different levels (An effective influencer)
• Motivation, tenacity and determination, with a desire to deliver outputs and results

The following experience/skills are very desirable:

• Model Based Systems Engineering tools and methodologies
• Working on largescale Systems Integration programmes, having managed issues associated with cost, schedule & quality implications
• Domain experience any of the following specialisms: Telecommunications, RF, Electronic Warfare, Electro-Optics, Air/Land/Sea sub-system Platform Integration, Data Distribution Services, Sensor Fusion, AI/Machine Learning
• Practitioner level ability using Model Driven Engineering tool e.g. Cameo Systems Modeler, Matlab, Simulink, DOORS (classic)

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: security and vetting information is available on the company website.

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 - Basildon

Additional Locations:

GB - Southampton

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid