At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering delivery for cutting-edge aerospace projects and unite international teams.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of combat air engineering and make a global impact.
- Qualifications: Significant engineering management experience in aerospace or electromechanical systems.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
hackajob is collaborating with Leonardo to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
Your impact
Step into one of the most ambitious defence programmes of a generation! As a Project Engineering Manager within the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of international aerospace collaboration. Working at the centre of a complex tri‑national delivery enterprise, you’ll help unite teams, technologies and partner organisations behind a shared mission: delivering the next generation of combat air capability. This is more than programme delivery — it’s an opportunity to influence how four leading international companies collaborate, innovate and engineer at scale.
In this high‑profile role, you will lead the technical delivery and development of the Integrated Sensing and Non Kinetic Effects and Integrated Communications System (ISANKE & ICS) domain consortium, driving engineering excellence across geographically dispersed teams in the UK and internationally. You’ll help establish the engineering strategies, governance frameworks and delivery processes that enable seamless collaboration between Leonardo UK, Leonardo Italy, Elettronica and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Melco). You’ll also act as the technical focal point for national and international partnerships, ensuring engineering considerations are embedded into commercial agreements, bids and proposals, while creating an environment where collaboration and innovation thrive.
What You’ll Bring
- We’re looking for a confident and influential engineering leader who can build trusted relationships across cultures, inspire teams through ambiguity and solve problems with a collaborative mindset.
- You’ll bring significant engineering management experience, ideally within large‑scale aerospace or electromechanical systems programmes involving embedded software, alongside a strong understanding of engineering lifecycle delivery from development through to manufacture and support.
- Ability to communicate with all levels of hierarchy and across cultures.
- Have ability to Influence and Inspire Trust in others.
- Be able to work effectively even in the presence of uncertainty.
- Be a proactive problem solver that seeks win-win solutions.
- Have significant engineering management experience, preferably on large scale delivery of electromechanical systems with embedded software for aerospace applications.
- Have a breadth of engineering experience and a good understanding of engineering functions, projects and processes.
- Have experience of all lifecycle phases i.e. Development, Manufacture and Support.
If you thrive in complex international environments, enjoy shaping strategy as much as delivery, and want to help define the future of combat air engineering, this is your opportunity to make a genuine global impact. The role can be based at any Leonardo UK site, with regular travel to our new Reading HQ and international partner locations.
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: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting
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.
Primary Location GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300
Additional Locations GB - Reading
Contract Type Permanent Hybrid Working Onsite
Project Engineering Manager in Reading employer: hackajob
At Leonardo, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within the aerospace and defence sectors. Our comprehensive benefits package, including generous leave, a robust pension scheme, and access to extensive professional development resources, ensures that our employees thrive both personally and professionally. With flexible working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we create an environment where every team member can contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of combat air engineering.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Engineering Manager in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Leonardo through LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the Global Combat Air Programme inside out. Show that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about the mission and how you can contribute to it.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in past projects. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
✨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 serious about joining the team at Leonardo.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Engineering Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in aerospace and engineering management. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Project Engineering Manager, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Project Engineering Manager, you'll need to inspire and influence teams. Use your application to share examples of how you've successfully led projects or teams in the past. We love seeing those collaborative problem-solving moments!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your writing straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon unless it’s necessary. Make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experiences without wading through fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and helps us keep track of all the amazing talent out there!
How to prepare for a job interview at hackajob
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your engineering management experience, especially in aerospace or electromechanical systems. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led and how you navigated challenges during the engineering lifecycle.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working with international teams, prepare examples of how you've built trusted relationships across cultures. Highlight instances where you inspired teams through ambiguity and solved problems collaboratively.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
Practice articulating complex engineering concepts clearly and concisely. You’ll need to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, so think about how you can tailor your message for different audiences.
✨Embrace Uncertainty
This role will have its fair share of ambiguity, so be prepared to discuss how you've thrived in uncertain situations. Share examples of proactive problem-solving and how you’ve sought win-win solutions in challenging scenarios.
