At a Glance
- Tasks: Oversee configuration management for aerospace systems across land, sea, and air.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a leader in aerospace and defence with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Other info: Hybrid working options available; diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in mission-critical projects while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in configuration management; a willingness to learn is key.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Your impact
Are you a configuration expert who would like to oversee an expanding portfolio of world class Mission Critical and Flight Safety Involved Systems deployed across land, sea and air domains? Our Design Integrity function is seeking a Principal Configuration and Data Engineer to join their thriving team. Working across our Customer Support and Service Solutions (CS3) business area, you will be responsible for supporting internal Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). In addition to this, you will be responsible for defining, implementing and maintaining the Configuration Management process across the full lifecycle of aerospace, civil and defence programmes, ensuring all product baselines are defined in accordance with contractual, regulatory and company standards throughout the product lifecycle. Please note this role is working on a hybrid basis, and can be based working from either our Edinburgh or Newcastle sites.
Your responsibilities include:
- Ensuring the integrity and traceability of all configuration items (CIs) across hardware, software, and documentation.
- Identification, agreement, and control of Configuration Items in alignment with programme and regulatory requirements.
- Creation, maintenance and oversight of configuration management plans, including baselines, updates, and change implementation plans.
- Ensuring compliance with the Five Pillars of Configuration Management and all relevant aerospace and defence standards.
- Configuration Identification – defining, documenting, and controlling CIs, baselines (Functional, Allocated, Product, As-Built, As Maintained), and their relationships in PLM systems.
- Configuration Control – managing changes via First Pass Filters (FPF), Configuration Control Boards (CCB), and Configuration Implementation Boards (CIB) to ensure structured, compliant change approval and embodiment.
- Configuration Status Accounting (CSA) – capturing, maintaining, and reporting CI status, change records, and KPIs, providing actionable intelligence to the Line of Business.
- Configuration Audits – planning and participating in Functional Configuration Audits (FCA), Physical Configuration Audits (PCA), and internal/supplier audits to verify conformity between design, production, and documentation.
- Configuration Planning & Governance – create and maintain the Configuration Management Plan (CMP) helping to ensure CM governance aligns with programme and contractual obligations.
What you’ll bring:
- Extensive experience in configuration and change control within defence, aerospace, or similarly regulated industries.
- Demonstrated authority in configuration governance, baseline management, and change control.
- Experience assuring and reviewing Configuration Management Plans.
- Advanced user and subject-matter expert in TCU.
- Proven experience supporting regulatory, customer, and internal audits.
- Experience working with classified and export-controlled information.
- Ideally Experience across multiple programme phases (development, production, in-service).
- Ideally Knowledge of airworthiness, safety‑critical systems, or certification frameworks.
- Ideally Experience defining organisational CM policy or frameworks.
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).
Why join us:
- 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.
- The 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.
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.
Aerospace Configuration & Data Engineer (Hybrid) in Edinburgh employer: Leonardo UK Ltd
At Leonardo, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With generous leave policies, a robust pension scheme, and extensive learning opportunities, we empower our employees to grow both personally and professionally. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, coupled with flexible working arrangements at our Edinburgh and Newcastle sites, makes us an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the aerospace and defence sectors.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Aerospace Configuration & Data Engineer (Hybrid) in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the aerospace and defence sectors on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show us you’re genuinely interested in what we do, especially in configuration management and compliance with standards.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We want to see your personality shine through, so don’t be afraid to let us know about your passion for aerospace!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Aerospace Configuration & Data Engineer (Hybrid) in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in configuration management and change control. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Expertise:As a Principal Configuration and Data Engineer, you’ll need to demonstrate your authority in configuration governance. Use specific examples from your past roles to illustrate your expertise, especially in regulated industries like aerospace or defence.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Keep your language straightforward and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo UK Ltd
✨Know Your Configuration Management Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of configuration management processes, especially in aerospace and defence. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented and maintained these processes in past roles, as this will show your expertise and confidence.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve hypothetical problems related to configuration control and change management. Think of specific examples from your experience where you successfully managed changes or audits, and be prepared to explain your thought process.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Relevant Standards
Since the role involves compliance with various aerospace and defence standards, make sure you know the key regulations and frameworks. Being able to reference these during your interview will demonstrate your commitment to quality and safety.
✨Show Your Willingness to Learn
The job description highlights a good attitude and willingness to learn as essential traits. Be ready to discuss how you've approached learning new skills or adapting to changes in previous roles, and express your enthusiasm for continuous improvement.