At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Systems Engineering across radar projects, ensuring technical excellence and governance.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, comprehensive health support, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity for career progression to senior technical roles.
- Why this job: Shape the future of radar technology while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in Systems Engineering and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Radar Sector Chief Systems Engineer provides independent Systems Engineering oversight across our radar portfolio, which has global reach. This senior role influences technical coherence, effectiveness and continuous improvements of Systems Engineering practice, while building project accountability through strong governance of project artefacts and activities, supporting and developing individual project Chief Systems Engineers. Acting as the focal point for Systems Engineering strategy and governance, you will help senior leaders make better technical decisions earlier in the lifecycle.
As a member of the Systems functional team, you will work closely with Sector Chief Engineers, Project Engineering Management and People & Capability leaders to build future-ready capability, shaping technical direction, strengthening engineering confidence and improving customer outcomes across diverse Radar architectures, technologies and sensing modalities.
Radar Systems Engineering Leadership
- Provide coaching in effective Systems Engineering practice, methods, modelling techniques and architectural thinking.
- Promote and guide the use of appropriate concept development, analysis, modelling and simulation techniques to identify risks, emergent behaviours and architectural trade-off analysis.
- Drive adoption of innovative and modern SE methods across the lifecycle, including digital engineering, model-based systems engineering and agile SE practices.
- Act as the focal point for Systems Engineering governance supporting Lifecycle Management (LCM) activities, design reviews, audits, and bid or early lifecycle technical guidance where appropriate.
- Own the sector Systems Engineering strategy, technical governance and technical authority across Leonardo's Radar sectors.
- Identify cross-sector trends, lessons learned and opportunities to improve efficiency and quality.
Capability, Workforce and Communities
- Develop and maintain the Radar Systems Engineering capability roadmap, including critical skills, emerging skills, development priorities, and sector-wide methods and systems engineering tooling.
- Strengthen collaboration across engineering disciplines.
- Act as the primary point of contact for Systems Engineering matters with sector technical leadership.
- Represent Leonardo in external Systems Engineering bodies or forums.
- Collaborate with peer Chief Systems Engineers across the UK.
The Radar Sector Chief Systems Engineer is expected to deliver and maintain:
- A clear strategy and improvement plan for the execution of Systems Engineering across Radar programmes, with systematic measurement at its core.
- A view of Systems Engineering capability, including critical skills, gaps, for both Systems Engineering methodologies and Radar domain knowledge.
- Sector guidance and practical direction on Systems Engineering process tailoring.
This senior leadership role is positioned to progress toward Programme Chief Engineer, Head of Discipline or Chief Technical Specialist roles. A strong desire to elevate Systems Engineering skills and maturity within Radar development, bringing your skills from your domain experiences e.g. Nuclear, Process Engineering, Rail.
Experience applying Systems Engineering governance and Life Cycle Management process at sector or programme level. Excellent communication and credibility with engineering, leadership and customers. Determination, resilience and a drive for high-quality engineering outcomes.
Security Clearance
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.
- Secure your Future: 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.
- 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.
- 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. At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Hybrid
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of system engineering (Permanent) in Edinburgh
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Leonardo for a Head of system engineering (Permanent). This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of system engineering (Permanent) in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Leonardo, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Leonardo, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Leonardo.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Leonardo. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Leonardo love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
