At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering projects from concept to delivery, driving innovation and excellence.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence and Security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse, innovative team with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering while mentoring and developing talent.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in engineering with a focus on strategic direction and project delivery.
The predicted salary is between 82000 - 95000 £ per year.
Salary – £82,000 to £95,000. 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.
Overview
The Head of Engineering Projects is a pivotal position, combining strategic vision with hands‑on delivery, and offers the chance to shape the future of engineering capability within Leonardo’s EW Line of Business. You will lead the successful delivery of complex technical programmes from early concept through to production support, working closely with customers and partners to ensure best‑in‑class solutions and driving innovation and operational excellence across all engineering initiatives.
What You’ll Do
- Strategic leadership: provide strategic direction and oversight across all programmes, motivating, leading and inspiring engineering teams to achieve excellence.
- Deliver engineering success: shape and direct the planning, resourcing, prioritisation, execution and delivery of engineering projects, with accountability for technical outcomes, as well as schedule and cost adherence.
- Develop talent: build a high‑performing engineering organisation which includes proactive mentoring across the team, shaping capability development and driving a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and technical excellence.
- Drive innovation: champion the evolution of engineering capability by adopting cutting‑edge technologies, modern methodologies and process enhancements that improve efficiency, quality and competitiveness.
- Collaborate: work alongside internal engineering disciplines to ensure the forward load is representative of future requirements, forecast skills and capability needs of programmes and develop robust succession plans to ensure continued future success.
- Build effective partnerships: forge strong working relationships with internal teams, external stakeholders, customers and partners to ensure alignment and seamless delivery across EW.
- Due diligence and governance: apply effective Life Cycle Management processes across bids and projects, taking overall responsibility for all engineering governance assurance activities.
- Maintain quality & compliance: guarantee adherence to safety, security and quality standards across the engineering teams.
- Manage budgets: lead the optimisation of engineering budgets, making informed trade‑off decisions that deliver value without compromising quality, safety or programme integrity.
- Risk management: drive a proactive and transparent risk management approach across all engineering practices, anticipating risks, guiding effective controls and ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.
- Support the Sector VP: in monthly Project Reviews, Demand Reviews, Supply Reviews and LoB Reviews.
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, including the eligibility requirements for the Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).
Benefits & Perks
- Time to Recharge: enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
- Secure Your Future: benefit from an 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.
- 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.
Location & Contract
Primary Location: GB – Luton – Cap Green 300. Additional Locations: GB – Lincoln. Contract Type: Permanent. Hybrid Working: Onsite, International, multicultural, innovative, technological.
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 nine sites in the UK. We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace that values diversity and encourages innovation.
Head of Engineering Projects employer: Leonardo UK Ltd
Leonardo UK Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Basildon where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will benefit from generous leave, flexible benefits, and opportunities to advance your career while working on cutting-edge defence technologies that make a real impact globally.
