Project Engineering Lead in Southampton

Salary Range - £59,000 - £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.

Your Impact

Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for Project Engineering Leads based at our Southampton Site on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). We are looking for a Project Engineering Lead (PEL) to join the engineering team on a permanent basis to lead parts of the Airborne Communication system on this project. This role will lead and manage a multi-disciplinary engineering team to deliver the project.

Project Engineering Leads are responsible for the total engineering activity undertaken on a project or portfolio of projects and so manage cross-disciplined engineering teams. The Project Engineering Lead is tasked to ensure that the engineering team delivers a solution that is compliant with the customer technical requirements; contractual requirements; and legislative requirements. Working closely with Project Managers and Project Engineering Manager and Chief Engineer, the Project Engineering Lead must effectively plan and manage the engineering effort within projects from a performance, schedule and cost perspective.

Reporting to a Project Engineering Manager, the Project Engineering Lead contributes to the monthly engineering governance cycle through preparation of engineering status reports. Project Engineering Leads build strong relationships with Engineering Functional Leads to ensure the resourcing plans for their projects are realistic and any issues arising are resolved swiftly. Project Engineering Leads also play a key role in business winning activities, coordinating the collection of engineering costs, preparation of engineering plans and holding engineering bid reviews.

The role requires a candidate who is self-motivated, proactive and enthusiastic, with strong leadership and communication skills. The ability to foster and develop effective working relationships is key to ensure engineers perform to the levels required of the projects. A strong product design, commercial and business awareness is also essential to ensure that the engineering effort can be managed in the correct context for each given project.

What you'll do:

• Project Engineering Leads are responsible for the management of a multi-disciplined engineering team across multiple projects. Working closely with project managers and project engineering managers, they are responsible for delivery of the overall engineering output against time, cost and performance budgets.
• Project Engineering Leads are responsible for generating clear and relevant engineering plans, establishing key milestones and identifying risks, opportunities and interdependencies.
• Project Engineering Leads are responsible for reviewing the current engineering positions on projects, and adapting plans as required to mitigate risks to either cost, schedule or performance budgets.
• Project Engineering Leads are responsible for preparation and communication of monthly engineering status reports for each of their assigned projects into their line manager, the Head of Engineering Projects.
• Project Engineering Leads are responsible for the coordination of engineering input into bids as part of the business winning process.
• Project Engineering Leads form part of the multi-functional management team for their IPT and may be required to represent engineering on that team at weekly and monthly progress and reporting meetings.

What you'll bring:

• Educated to a degree level in an engineering or related science based subject (essential).
• Previous experience of managing and/or leading multi-disciplined engineering teams, taking responsibility for schedule and budget (essential).
• Strong understanding and proven track record of engineering lifecycles and processes (essential).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (essential).
• Experience of working on the development of hardware electronics, firmware, mechanical and software based products (Essential).
• Experience of working on the development of communications systems (Highly Desirable).
• Experience of collaborating with external partners for a development (sharing of models, code etc) (Desirable).
• Experience of working within the defence or aerospace industry (desirable).

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.
• 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. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

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.

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.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!