Lead Software Engineer

Salary Range: £65,000 - £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 seeking experienced Lead Software Engineers to take on pivotal Technical Authority roles within our Electronic Warfare (EW) and Future Combat Air programmes based in Luton. This role combines technical leadership with strategic influence, offering significant autonomy and responsibility for critical software components or entire projects.

Qualifications

• Several years of embedded software engineering experience in aerospace, defence, or other mission/safety‑critical domains.
• Ability to set technical direction, defining software architecture and design strategies aligned with platform and system goals.
• Experience ensuring compliance with DO‑178C standards or equivalent, and adherence to internal governance processes.
• Strong skills in technical risk identification and mitigation across software components.
• Hands‑on delivery of DO‑178C software or equivalent, with lifecycle experience from requirements through to certification.
• A background in technical leadership, including architectural design, risk mitigation, or technical governance.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach engineers, uplifting capability and promoting software engineering excellence.
• Familiarity with legacy systems, export controls, interoperability, and long‑term product evolution.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines, working closely with systems, hardware, and firmware teams to ensure coherent integration.
• Commitment to championing design integrity, acting as the accountable technical lead during audits and 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, which could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Benefits

• 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 at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Receive a 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.

Location & Working Conditions

Primary Location: GB – Luton – Cap. Green 300. Contract Type: Permanent. Hybrid Working: Hybrid 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 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. We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace.