Chief Systems Engineer in Southampton

Leonardo has an exciting and immediate vacancy for a Chief Systems Engineer, someone with a passion for contributing to the UK’s Defence Industry and making an impactful change. We are recruiting for a Chief Systems Engineer with experience of guiding large teams. The role requires a passion for Systems Engineering and the ability to impart knowledge and experience to others. 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 position is based on a hybrid basis at our purpose‑built site in the beautiful city of Southampton.

What you’ll do

• The Chief Systems Engineer acts as the focal point for Systems Engineering Governance and ensures our Systems Engineering capability trends in a positive direction.
• The role will provide a clear point of contact on Systems Engineering capability for the Business Area Head of Engineering Projects, Chief Engineer and will report to the Line of Business Head of Systems Engineering.
• The focus of this role is to provide direction, guidance and expertise to ensure:
• Our systems engineering team assess the problem completely
• Our teams reuse techniques and artefacts across the portfolio of projects
• Our teams manage complexity through architecting our systems well
• Our teams predict and mitigate emergent behaviours when operating at a system or integrated systems level
• Our projects 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 an on‑site presence will be essential, but we are 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

• 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 Airborne Comms and Naval Information, Communication System (ICS) 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 ideally already be in a Chief Systems Engineer role or a Lead Engineer looking for the next opportunity. We are looking for a systems thinker, someone with:

• Experience in applying governance and guidance on Systems Engineering LCM process.
• Experience working in Integrated Project Teams delivering engineering artefacts successfully.
• Experience in eliciting stakeholder expectations.
• Experience in creating and defining architectures.
• Experience in 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).
• Experience of integration, with an understanding of the resultant issues, cost and schedule implications, and potential mitigations.
• Motivation, tenacity and determination, with a desire to deliver outputs and results.

The following experience/skills are very desirable:

• Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering tools and methodologies.
• Experience working on large‑scale Systems Integration programmes, having managed issues associated with cost, schedule & quality implications.
• Domain experience in 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 tools e.g. Cameo Systems Modeler, Matlab, Simulink, DOORS (classic), Polarion.

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, which could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Salary - £80k to £95k

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.

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!