Project Chief Engineer in Luton

Are you ready to take on a pivotal Chief Engineer / Systems Design Authority (SDA) role, leading delivery across complex, high-profile engineering programmes of national importance? As the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) continues to expand in scale, complexity and international collaboration, we are growing our technical leadership team and seeking four exceptional Chief Engineers/System Design Authorities to join Leonardo's Electronic Warfare (EW) Sector.

In these highly visible and strategically critical roles, you will ensure robust governance and quality in the delivery of current products, while leading the technical direction for next-generation mission data architectures and services, including training and test solutions. Each role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with a combination of on-site presence at our Luton office and UK and international travel.

• Role 1: Project Chief Engineer for the GCAP EW System, responsible for technical coordination of the international stakeholders (External Interface).
• Role 2: Project Chief Engineer for the GCAP EW Joint Systems Team (JST) with Tri-National Partners - providing governance of the JST and responsible for delivery of the Product Maturity Reviews (Governance Lead).
• Role 3: System Design Authority (SDA) for the GCAP EW Mid-High Electronic Surveillance (MHES) Sub-System.
• Role 4: System Design Authority (SDA) for the GCAP EW System Controller (SC) Sub-System.

What you'll bring:

These roles offer a unique opportunity to make a significant impact within a growing engineering team, playing a key role in shaping the future of Mission Support Products using the latest technologies to meet evolving customer needs.

You Really Must Have:

• A strong technical background with extensive experience in the design, development, qualification and certification of complex military products, including radar and EW systems.
• Broad experience across Requirements, Verification, Qualification and Acceptance, including achieving Design Certification and Customer Acceptance.
• Proven ability to manage Design Standards and Configuration Management and deliver innovative system-level solutions.
• Developed compliant technical solutions within cost and schedule constraints.
• Lead effectively with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Be a self-motivated leader and collaborative team player, able to operate with minimal direction and communicate effectively with SMEs and end users across diverse technical and cultural environments.

It would be nice if you had:

• Knowledge of EW equipment use within customer operational environments, alongside awareness of training and software development principles.
• Degree-qualified in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline, with Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) and Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) membership.
• Strong analytical capability with proven technical problem-solving skills.

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).

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.