Chief Systems Engineer - Precision Guidance in Basildon

Leonardo has an exciting opportunity within the Integrated Sensing and Protection (ISP) business for a Chief Systems Engineer operating within the Precision Guidance business area at our site in Basildon.

Role Overview

As a senior technical leader, you will support strategically important programmes and act as the focal point for Systems Engineering governance and capability development. You will influence the business area’s long-term success by embedding Systems Thinking, ensuring coherent architectures, and setting a clear technical vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Influence the development, structure and quality of engineering artefacts across the FC/ASW programme, ensuring coherence, consistency and technical integrity.
• Act as the focal point for systems engineering governance, supporting Lifecycle Management (LCM) and ensuring compliance with solid SE practices.
• Provide expert coaching to ensure engineers fully understand the problem space, stakeholder needs and system constraints throughout the lifecycle.
• Ensure appropriate concept development, modelling, simulation and architectural techniques inform solution options and technical decisions.
• Influence whole-life design considerations relating to Safety, Security, Manufacture, Test, Supportability and Through-life Support in line with company processes.
• Identify and share lessons learned to improve the quality and efficiency of future work.
• Collaborate with peers across the UK to promote a culture of continual learning and improvement and act as a change agent for systems engineering.
• Identify trends, recurring challenges and systemic inefficiencies across the focus area and translate them into actionable improvements.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Experience applying Systems Engineering governance and LCM processes.
• Track record of delivering high-quality engineering artefacts within Integrated Project Teams.
• Experience eliciting stakeholder expectations.
• Experience in creating and defining architectures.
• Experience managing and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high-complexity, dynamic environment at a senior level.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and respect at all levels.
• Motivation, tenacity and determination to deliver beneficial outcomes.
• Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering tools and methodologies.
• Experience working on large-scale Systems Integration programmes with cost, schedule and quality implications.
• Domain experience in one of the following specialisms: RF, Electronic Warfare, Electro-Optics, Air/Land/Sea subsystem, Platform Integration, Sensor Fusion or AI/Machine Learning.
• Practitioner level ability using Model-Driven Engineering tools (e.g., Cameo Systems Modeler, Matlab, Simulink, DOORS).
• 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). Additional Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, including eligibility for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Salary

Chief Engineer £75k - £91k.

Benefits

• Generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Employer contribution to pension scheme up to 15%.
• Free access to mental health support, financial advice and employee-led networks.
• Eligibility for bonus scheme for employees at management level and below.
• Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Referral programme reward.
• Flexible benefits package up to £500 per year (private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships).
• Flexible hours with hybrid working options.

Location & Contract

Basildon, UK. Permanent full-time contract with hybrid working options.