Safety Manager - Future Combat Air

Be part of the future of combat air capability! Within Team Tempest, Leonardo UK is at the forefront of developing next-generation Integrated Sensor and Non‑Kinetic Effects (ISANKE) and Integrated Communications Systems (ICS) technologies for the Future Combat Air (FCA) programme. As part of this pioneering work, we are seeking an experienced and collaborative Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Safety Manager to join the ISANKE and IC‑S Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP). This is a unique opportunity to influence the safety strategy behind some of the UK’s most advanced defence and aerospace technologies.

Working across multiple Lines of Business, you will play a critical role in ensuring the safe integration of complex sensing, communications and mission systems onto a Flight Test Aircraft (FTA), helping to shape the future of air combat capability.

What you’ll bring

• Lead the safety engineering approach across the integrated ISANKE and IC‑S Technology Demonstrator Programme
• Provide specialist safety advice to support product authorization activities in line with company processes
• Drive a consistent and coherent safety strategy across multiple subsystem teams and stakeholders
• Review and integrate subsystem safety analyses into the overall system‑level assessment
• Identify, analyse and mitigate functional and intrinsic hazards to ensure residual risks are reduced to ALARP levels
• Define and manage safety requirements across system and subsystem levels
• Ensure aircraft‑level safety analysis aligns with ISANKE and IC‑S system safety activities
• Support major design reviews and contribute directly to safety documentation where required
• Mentor and guide safety engineers, helping to build capability across the programme

What we’re looking for

• Are comfortable operating across complex systems with multiple interfaces, dependencies and stakeholders
• Have strong experience with aircraft‑level safety regulations, processes and analysis
• Can apply a pragmatic, delivery‑focused approach while maintaining technical integrity
• Build strong working relationships across engineering, project and design integrity teams
• Have experience leading or guiding system safety approaches within complex aerospace or defence programmes
• Enjoy working collaboratively to solve technically challenging problems

This is more than a safety role — it’s an opportunity to contribute to one of the UK’s most ambitious and technologically advanced aerospace programmes. You’ll work alongside industry‑leading engineers and experts, helping to define the safety standards and integrated capabilities that will shape the future of combat air systems. If you’re passionate about systems safety, complex integration and next‑generation aerospace innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

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

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company‑funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work‑life balance. Whether you’re looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• 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.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech.