Chief Engineer - Systems

Location: Hybrid role. Whiteley, Hampshire with travel to customer sites across the South of England.

Clearance Required: This role will require attainment and maintenance of SC clearance.

An experienced Chief Engineer is required who leads and/or manages works of other technical staff that has significant impact on the portfolio’s results/outputs predominately fills this role. With a focus on delivery and operation, the Chief Engineer contributes to the development of solutions that influence strategic project/programme goals and business results. They have thorough understanding of advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts, they recommend and collaborate in the development of new technical solutions and/or standards in support of strategy and operations.

Core skills and behaviours:

• Drives the team towards delivery by shaping and encouraging the team to achieve outcomes.
• Significant experience in delivery of complex technical deliverables, preferably in Air Traffic Management using a diverse engineering and technology team.
• Significant experience in breaking down technical deliveries into manageable and trackable parts.
• Experience in lifecycle methodologies, technical governance and technical solutions.
• Experience of technical business analysis or systems engineering, including requirements management and Model-Based Systems Engineering.
• Experience of large-scale integrations, service orientated architecture and key technologies.
• Keen technical advocate and self-learner up to date with the latest technology and innovations; encourages and inspires those around them.
• Proven experience leading complex, multi-disciplinary engineering programmes with significant technical and business impact.
• Strong background in systems engineering, including requirements analysis, requirements management, and technical assurance.
• Experience providing technical leadership and governance, guiding engineering teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrable expertise in systems integration and systems architecture, including large-scale or safety-critical environments.
• Ability to decompose complex technical problems into manageable, measurable delivery plans.
• Experience across the full engineering lifecycle, including lifecycle cost analysis, performance analysis, and trade studies.
• Advanced capability in modelling, simulation, and evidence-based technical decision-making.
• Strong understanding of data and information architectures and their role in system performance and delivery.
• Ownership of configuration management, risk management, and technical compliance.
• Excellent stakeholder management, with the credibility to challenge, influence, and advise at senior levels.
• A recognised technical authority who mentors engineers and sets the standard for technical excellence.

Tools & Professional Practice:

• Microsoft Office suite, with advanced use of Excel for analysis and reporting.
• Microsoft Visio for system, architecture, and process modelling.

Key items:

• Experience in leading the delivery of complex IT systems.
• Knowledge of current ATM systems and future direction of the industry.
• Systems engineering management.

The role will be a Hybrid position, 1-2 days a week onsite with additional visits to customer sites which are essential. Training will be provided where necessary on any Leidos proprietary tools and processes.

At Leidos we are PASSIONATE about customer success, UNITED as a team and INSPIRED to make a difference. We offer meaningful and engaging careers, a collaborative culture, and support for your career goals, all while nurturing a healthy work-life balance.

We provide an employment package that attracts, develops and retains only the best in talent. Our reward scheme includes:

• Contributory Pension Scheme.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• 33 days Annual Leave (including public and privilege holidays).
• Access to Flexible benefits (including life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, annual buy and sell holidays and a cycle to work scheme and much more!).
• Flexi-Time Working.

Commitment to Diversity: We welcome applications from every part of the community and are committed to a truly diverse and inclusive culture. We foster a sense of belonging, welcoming all perspectives and contributions, and providing equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone.

Who We Are: Leidos UK & Europe – we work to make the world safer, healthier, and more efficient through technology, engineering and science. Leidos is a growing company delivering innovative technology and solutions focused on safeguarding critical capabilities and transformation in frontline services.

What Makes Us Different: Purpose: you can use your passion and abilities at Leidos to keep the people you care about safe. We are at the forefront of machine learning, AI, cyber security and solutions. Using your skills in the technology frontline by helping to build a safer world. You can inspire change.

Collaboration: having flexibility to do your job is one of our core benefits, enabling you to become part of our extraordinary team.

People: Leidos empowers people from every background to be themselves and gives you the tools to learn new skills by enabling growth whilst developing.

If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail.

Pay Range: £75,800.00-£99,800.00. Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination: 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.