Solution Architect (Temporary) in Basildon, Essex

Are you a Solutions Architect who loves contributing to the UK’s Defence Industry and making impactful change? Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for someone with a background in Defence Communications or Cyber & Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) to enhance the leadership and strategic direction of its work in Land CEMA to support UK and international customers. A hybrid role based at either Southampton, Basildon or Bristol.

Your impact:

• As Solutions Architect, you will take a highly influential role that will be intimately involved in delivering a business strategic objective.
• The Solution Architect will play a pivotal part in the delivery of our Land CEMA portfolio; shaping both enterprise and system-level solution designs.
• This role is key to ensuring resilient, modular, and scalable solutions for future customer needs and operating environments.
• The Solution Architect’s role is as broad as it is diverse and challenging and is a pivotal role within Leonardo’s Land CEMA Integrated Capture Team.
• Activities will range from SI Enterprise Architecture design, identification of technical solutions & architectures, technical leadership in bids and external studies, scope of and participation in PV and support to Capability Management for product portfolios.
• Operating at the intersection of strategy, engineering, and business development, the Solution Architect will collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to define clear solution definitions to strengthen our current reputation as a trusted partner in defence technology.
• The role also requires close engagement with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders to build enduring relationships.

The focus of this role is:

• Maintaining high awareness of all relevant developments around Land CEMA Architecture (Standards for Integrated C5ISR/EW Systems) (LCA (STICS)).
• Architect and deliver CEMA capabilities across enterprise and system levels, ensuring interoperability, resilience, and customer value.
• Shape technical and commercial strategy by evaluating alternative approaches, balancing bespoke development with Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) integration.
• Lead technical input to bids and campaigns, producing architectures, requirements, and cost estimates that drive competitive advantage.
• Engage directly with customers and partners, translating operational needs into clear technical solutions and building trusted long-term relationships.
• Generate thought leadership through white papers, studies, and stakeholder engagement, influencing future defence programmes and market direction.
• Support recruitment and mentoring, building a pipeline of engineering talent and fostering innovation.
• Represent the organisation internationally, strengthening reputation and expanding market presence through B2B collaboration and strategic partnerships.

What you’ll bring:

• You will have a proven background within CEMA or Defence Communication applications and working at Solutions Architect or similar level.
• A degree (or equivalent experience) in a STEM subject and strong numerical, analytical and design skills, with the ability to apply these to real world problems.
• Significant experience developing communications, Electronic Warfare (EW) /CEMA and/or other vehicle mission systems-based architectures, products and systems, throughout the full lifecycle.
• Experience of dealing with customers at a senior commercial and technical level.
• Experience of estimating costs and technical risk for each solution approach.
• Experience of full life cycle for product and system development – concept through to disposal.
• Familiarity with open systems architectures such as Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), LCA, GVA, OpenVPX, Modular Open Radio Frequency (RF) Architecture (MORA), OpenCPI, VITA.
• Experience of formal user requirements capture, traceability and compliance management methodology and tools.
• Experience of military electronic systems including an understanding of interoperability, operational use cases and customer needs.
• Knowledge of military communications architecture[s] and principles.
• Experience of relevant tools such as Cameo, Rhapsody, System Architect and The Mathworks.
• Experience of military command and control networks in the Land and Maritime context.
• Experience of the methodology and production of the engineering documentation necessary to support a competitive tender.
• Experience working in a consultancy type role.

You will have proven experience as a Solutions Architect (or role with similar responsibilities), with the following attributes:

• Ability to understand customer’s business / technical needs and the ability to translate them into a technical solution, using language that customers can understand.
• Excellent problem solving and innovation skills.
• Strategic mindset: the ability to drive an organisation to achieve short term goals and long-term strategy.
• Motivating and communicating – including the ability to empower and influence others.
• Challenging and continuously improving.
• Ability to work in a multiorganisational team.
• Ability to present at all levels, both internally & externally.
• Proactive, self-starter, comfortable working with ambiguous or ill-defined requirements.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!