Defence Analytics Engineer

Salary Range: £40,000 – £71,400 basic with a 12.5% uplift. 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.

Your impact: Our Central London team is looking for talented and enthusiastic analysts to perform weapon system assessments for our Ministry of Defence (MOD) customer. The role will suit recent STEM graduates, postgraduates, or those with relevant industry experience in systems engineering who wish to apply their abilities in a technical analysis and systems assessment environment. You will help ensure that MOD’s weapon assessments are robust and delivered in a timely manner to UK Defence partners and front‑line forces. This is intended as a full‑time position, but we would consider part‑time work of 4 days per week. The role is primarily an on‑site role with some possibility for hybrid working.

Customer Integration: You will be a member of a weapons project team within our larger Defence Analytics Group in Central London, integrated with government employees, armed forces, and other contractors.

Challenge: Conduct analysis to assess the performance and capability of weapon systems using scientific methods, physical principles, data analytics, and AI/ML on intractable data sets, developing new techniques and improved tools.

Collaboration: Work in close liaison with teams within the UK and partner nations, contributing, influencing, challenging and improving joint ways of working and knowledge.

Breadth: Work in an environment where both the complexity and capabilities of the systems are continually evolving worldwide.

What You’ll Do as a Defence Analytics Engineer:

• Conduct analysis using physical principles to solve real‑world problems, facilitated by in‑house software tools and ad‑hoc Python development.
• Produce reports and presentations of your work and present them to local MOD customers and the wider community in the UK and partner nations.
• Provide ad‑hoc advice and support to MOD customers, often at short notice.
• Use your experience to propose and implement improvements to tools and processes.
• In conjunction with the project team, maintain regular liaison with MOD and the wider customer base to keep them informed of recent developments and to determine future analysis requirements.
• Seek cooperative and collaborative approaches with our UK and multi‑national partners, identifying best practice.
• Travel for technical exchanges with partners, in the UK and abroad.

What You’ll Bring:

• A good understanding of scientific methods and the application of fundamental physical principles.
• A degree in a STEM subject with strong numerical and analytical skills, able to apply them to real‑world problems.
• Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate collaborative and effective working within an interdisciplinary team.
• Problem‑solving ability and the capacity to work to deadlines, sometimes at short notice.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for audiences of differing technical backgrounds and seniority.
• Appreciation of aerospace technologies, such as aerodynamics, propulsion, guidance & control, weapon systems and sensors (advantage but not essential).
• Experience in Python, C# and AI/ML (distinct advantage).

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) will apply, including eligibility for The Security Check (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV).

Benefits:

• Time to Recharge – Generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure Your Future – 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 – Employees at management level and below are eligible for a bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning – Free access to over 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 discuss what might be possible for this role.

Location: London, Whitehall, UK

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Onsite