At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead systems engineering activities and provide technical direction on critical national infrastructure projects.
- Company: Join Leidos, a leader in innovative technology solutions with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and health benefits.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for career growth and mentoring.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while developing your technical leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in systems engineering and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 61500 - 78800 £ per year.
Location: Farnborough or other Leidos UK Offices, with flexibility to work from home dependent on business demands.
Salary: £61,500 – £78,800.
About the Role
Leidos is seeking an experienced Technical Lead (Systems Engineering) to play a pivotal role on a critical national infrastructure programme, supporting a high‑profile government customer.
Responsibilities include:
- Technical Leadership
- Act as Technical Lead for systems engineering activities within assigned workstreams or projects.
- Provide authoritative technical direction across on‑premise and cloud‑hosted systems, ensuring coherence across infrastructure, networks, applications and services.
- Lead technical decision‑making, trade‑offs, and design assurance in line with programme and customer requirements.
- Systems Engineering & Design
- Apply Systems Engineering principles across the full engineering lifecycle (V‑Model), including requirements, design, integration, verification and transition to service.
- Own and assure key engineering artefacts, including impact assessments, high‑level and low‑level designs, and technical change documentation.
- Ensure designs are aligned with programme architecture, security constraints, and operational needs.
- Change & Impact Assessment
- Lead the technical impact assessment of Requests for Change (RFCs) and new requirements.
- Clearly define technical scope, dependencies, risks and estimates for change delivery.
- Support Project Managers with technically robust inputs to planning, costing and scheduling.
- Stakeholder & Customer Engagement
- Work directly with customer technical stakeholders to elicit, clarify and refine requirements.
- Act as a trusted technical authority, able to explain complex technical topics clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Collaborate effectively across Leidos engineering disciplines and third‑party suppliers.
- Governance, Quality & Assurance
- Ensure compliance with Leidos engineering standards, programme governance, and security policies.
- Identify technical risks early and define mitigation strategies.
- Support technical reviews, audits, and assurance activities as required.
- Mentoring & Capability Development
- Provide technical mentoring and coaching to junior and mid‑level engineers.
- Promote good engineering practice, reuse of patterns, and continuous improvement across the programme.
- Contribute to the development of common ways of working and engineering maturity within the programme.
Essential Qualifications
- Proven experience as a Technical Lead or Senior Systems Engineer on large‑scale, complex IT programmes.
- Strong grounding in Systems Engineering concepts and lifecycle management.
- Broad technical understanding across infrastructure, networks, applications, integrations, and hybrid/cloud environments.
- Experience leading technical design, integration and change in a controlled, high‑assurance environment.
- Ability to assess technical risk, manage dependencies and make sound engineering decisions.
- Excellent communication skills, with experience engaging customers and senior stakeholders.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience working on UK government, defence or critical national infrastructure programmes.
- Familiarity with IT service delivery environments and operational constraints.
- Knowledge of security‑driven design and working within secure environments.
- Experience influencing technical strategy across multi‑supplier ecosystems.
Personal Attributes
- Confident technical leader with strong systems thinking.
- Pragmatic, delivery‑focused, and able to balance risk, cost and quality.
- Collaborative and comfortable working across organisational boundaries.
- Passionate about engineering excellence and developing others.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on one of Leidos UK's most significant and visible programmes.
- Exposure to complex, mission‑critical systems with real national impact.
- A collaborative engineering culture with clear technical career pathways.
- Competitive salary, benefits, and flexible working arrangements.
- Contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, 33 days annual leave, flexible benefits (life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, cycle‑to‑work scheme).
- Flexi‑time working.
Location
UK (Hybrid / Customer site as required)
Clearance Requirements
Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC or higher; DV desirable).
Equal Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
Technical Lead (Systems Engineering) employer: Fairygodboss
Leidos is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Farnborough with the flexibility to work from home. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, comprehensive health and wellness packages, and a strong focus on professional development through mentoring and clear career pathways. The collaborative culture fosters innovation and excellence, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact on critical national infrastructure projects.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Lead (Systems Engineering)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to systems engineering. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online resources to get comfortable with articulating your thought process.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a GitHub repository that highlights your projects and contributions in systems engineering. This gives potential employers a tangible way to see your skills in action.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Leidos.
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Lead (Systems Engineering)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Technical Lead role. Highlight your experience in systems engineering and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. We love seeing enthusiasm and a personal touch.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don't forget to showcase your technical skills and experience with cloud-hosted systems and infrastructure. We’re keen on seeing how you’ve tackled complex challenges in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and we’ll be able to track your application better. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fairygodboss
✨Know Your Systems Engineering Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Systems Engineering principles and lifecycle management. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these concepts in previous roles, especially in large-scale IT programmes. This will show that you can lead technical decision-making effectively.
✨Prepare for Technical Discussions
Since you'll be acting as a trusted technical authority, practice explaining complex technical topics in simple terms. Think about how you would communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This will demonstrate your excellent communication skills and ability to engage customers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to share examples of how you've mentored junior engineers or led teams in the past. Highlight your experience in promoting good engineering practices and continuous improvement. This will help convey your confidence as a technical leader.
✨Understand the Importance of Compliance
Familiarise yourself with Leidos' engineering standards and security policies. Be ready to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous projects and how you identify technical risks early. This will show that you understand the governance and quality assurance aspects of the role.
