Lead Supportability Engineer in Edinburgh

Salary Range: £59,400 - £75,000. 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. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

We are looking for a Lead Supportability Engineer with strong industry experience not necessarily within the domain of Supportability, but those with backgrounds in Electronics/Hardware or Systems would also be suitable. The Supportability department has a unique position within our business as it is involved in the full lifecycle of a programme, from Bid, Development, Production then Customer Support and eventually disposal.

We draw engineers from many different disciplines such as Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, and System Engineering to enhance the Supportability department. We expect our people to create strong working relationships with cross‑department colleagues in Systems, Electronics, Mechanical, Software, Test Equipment, Quality and Industrial to identify problems on complex systems before they reach Production or the Customer. As a department, we have a strong focus on continuous improvement of our procedures and processes but also of our department itself and want anyone who joins to be part of that journey.

Responsibilities

• Reliability Analysis: Working with other disciplines, your team will develop component to system level reliability models, including the use of Reliability Block Diagram Methodology on electronic, power, RF, digital and mechanical systems to provide guidance to the design engineers.
• Reliability Testing and Simulation: The Supportability team will create models to discover areas of concern and develop Reliability Growth plans and procedures to identify failure modes and propose Corrective action.
• Maintainability Analysis: Your team will carry out modular to system level analysis that addresses Human Factors and Maintenance Task Analysis to identify Reliability Centred Maintenance and Scheduled Maintenance tasks, ensuring that the equipment meets its operational capability.
• Testability Analysis: Your team will complete a FMECA analysis, working closely with Hardware engineers to establish the effectiveness of fault detection and isolation of the equipment BIT and feed back omissions and improvements into the design process.
• Product Safety: As part of a broader safety team, including Design Integrity and Systems Engineering, your team will carry out analysis of the design, its assembly, test and operation to complete an Intrinsic Product Safety hazard and Environment Impact Analysis, providing input to the Hazard Log, Safety Case and Fault Tree Analysis.
• Production Support: Your team will be involved in analysis of production and in‑service failure data (FRACAS), to identify and prioritise pattern faults. SE will work within a multi‑discipline IPT team to identify Root Cause and Corrective action.
• Support Strategy: You will help to develop a product’s In‑Service Support strategy, using through‑life cost modelling and many aspects of the above analysis.
• Ensure milestones are completed to schedule and budget while ensuring technical quality.
• Provide expert input into Life Cycle Management reviews.
• Work alongside the IPT to reduce cost and risk across the lifecycle and support any continuous improvement activities.
• Work with Supportability HoD to seek improvements to our methods and processes and promote and implement improved ways of working within the Supportability department.
• Schedule, manage and chair Sector Project Cost Review Boards (PCRBs).

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Degree in a relevant engineering or science discipline.
• Worked in industry, defence or have other relevant experience.
• Strong experience of leading and developing teams.
• Commercial and business awareness.
• Experience in engineering management and delivery of project work packages.
• Ability to manage complex situations with sound judgement and the ability to balance conflicting challenges.

Preferred Experience

• Experience of working with, and supporting products throughout their whole lifecycle.
• Working in multi‑discipline teams to influence design by implementation of DfX, specifically those associated with Supportability such as Design for Supportability, Reliability, Maintenance, Testability and Safety.
• Experience of implementing and undertaking Failure Modes Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMEA/FMECA).
• Knowledge of the many UK and International Standards applicable to Safety and RMT Availability analysis and modelling.
• A working knowledge of the following tools and packages would be beneficial: MS Office packages; PTC Windchill; Matlab/Simulink; Power BI; JIRA and Python.

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).

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive, company‑funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work‑life balance. You will enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year. Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution. Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity. All employees are eligible for our bonus scheme. Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning. Refer a friend: financial reward through our referral programme. 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.

Location & Working Conditions

Primary Location: GB - Edinburgh. Contract Type: Permanent. Hybrid Working: Hybrid International. The company is international, multicultural, innovative, technological.