At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure safety in defence and aerospace products throughout their lifecycle.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and contribute to continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety engineering in innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant STEM field and experience in Product Safety engineering.
The predicted salary is between 40507 - 49509 £ per year.
Job Description
Your Impact As a Senior or Principal Systems Engineer specialising in Product Safety, you will help ensure Leonardo's products are safe, certifiable and fit for operational use throughout the system lifecycle.
You will contribute to complex defence and aerospace programmes by identifying, assessing and managing safety risks, providing robust evidence to support engineering decisions, customer acceptance and certification activities.
Working within multidisciplinary Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), you will influence system requirements, design, integration, verification and operational activities, ensuring safety considerations are embedded throughout programme delivery.
You will also contribute to the development of Systems Safety engineering capability through mentoring, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
As part of the Raven programme, you will apply sound engineering judgement to complex Product Safety challenges, supporting the resolution of emerging safety issues and helping to maintain a robust path to certification, acceptance and operational deployment.
You will support both ongoing in-service activities for current versions and the development of future versions, including early lifecycle systems engineering activities such as requirements definition, architecture development and design reviews.
What you'll do
- Deliver Product Safety engineering activities across multiple phases of the system lifecycle.
- Develop and maintain hazard analyses, safety assessments, safety cases and associated evidence.
- Identify, analyse and manage product safety risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies.
- Support certification, qualification and acceptance activities with customers and assurance authorities.
- Work closely with systems, software, hardware and integration teams to ensure safety requirements are effectively implemented.
- Investigate and support resolution of safety incidents, safety arisings and emerging technical issues.
- Ensure traceability between hazards, requirements, mitigations and verification evidence.
- Support design reviews, gate reviews and engineering assurance activities.
- Lead or support safety work packages, planning activities and reporting progress against project objectives.
- Provide peer review, technical guidance and mentoring to engineers within the wider engineering community.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of safety engineering processes, methods and tools.
- What you'll bring
- We really need you to have the following in order to succeed in this role:
- Degree in Systems Engineering, Safety Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electronic Engineering or a related STEM discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Experience delivering Product Safety engineering activities within a complex engineering environment.
- Knowledge of multiple phases of the engineering lifecycle and the interaction between safety, systems engineering and design disciplines.
- Experience applying recognised safety analysis techniques such as: Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA) Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA) Hazard Logs and Safety Cases.
- Ability to communicate complex technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience producing high-quality technical reports, safety evidence and engineering documentation.
- Ability to work independently whilst collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
- If you have the above skills, the following will really help you stand out:
- Experience within the aerospace, defence or other highly regulated sectors.
- Knowledge of standards such as DEF STAN 00-056, MIL-STD-882, ARP4761, IEC 61508 or equivalent industry standards.
- Experience supporting safety certification and customer acceptance activities.
- Experience leading engineering work packages, planning activities and managing technical risks.
- Experience conducting peer reviews and providing technical mentoring.
- Membership of a relevant professional institution and working towards, or holding, Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
- 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
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 Linked In 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.
About Leonardo
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.
- Location and Contract
- Primary
- Additional
Locations: GB - Newcastle.
Contract
Type: Employee-Permanent.
Hybrid
Working: Hybrid.
International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo.
Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!
Principal/Lead Systems Safety Engineer – Raven employer: Leonardo S.p.A.
Leonardo UK is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers employees to tackle complex technical challenges in the aerospace sector. With generous benefits including a robust pension scheme, flexible working options, and extensive learning opportunities, employees are encouraged to grow and thrive in their careers while contributing to meaningful projects that enhance global safety. Located in Edinburgh, this role provides a unique chance to be part of a diverse team dedicated to shaping the future of technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal/Lead Systems Safety Engineer – Raven
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Leonardo S.p.A. for a Principal/Lead Systems Safety Engineer – Raven. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal/Lead Systems Safety Engineer – Raven
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Leonardo S.p.A., make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Leonardo S.p.A., we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo S.p.A.
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Leonardo S.p.A..
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Leonardo S.p.A.. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Leonardo S.p.A. love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
