Airworthiness Approvals Lead in Luton

Your Impact

Play a major role within Future Combat Air (FCA) and help shape the future of one of the world's most ambitious defence programmes. Our Design Integrity function is looking for an Airworthiness Approvals Lead to support the Future Combat Air (FCA) line of business (LOB). Reporting to the GCAP Chief Airworthiness Engineer, you will be responsible for sustaining our existing DAOS approval and leading the development of a new organisational approval framework that will support the future needs of the GCAP programme.

Please note that this role is working on a hybrid basis and can be based at any of our following sites; Newcastle, Edinburgh, Luton, Bristol, Lincoln, Basildon or Southampton. In addition to this, you will be required to travel to our partner sites within the UK and overseas.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Represent Leonardo in GCAP forums where Design Organisation Approvals are being investigated and progressed, as an Airworthiness Design Organisation SME.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the UK Military and European Defence Agency EMAR Part 21 Regulatory Environment and develop an understanding of the GCAP partner nation's Regulatory Environments.
• Participate with the GCAP Chief Airworthiness Engineer alongside our international partners within the Domain Engineering and Technical Office (DETO) in the running of the Office of Airworthiness & Qualification.
• Work with the Design Integrity Chief Engineers; and with the Safety and Airworthiness Security leads in each Leonardo Line of Business to ensure a consistent approach is taken.
• Maintain the extant Leonardo Electronics UK Design Organisation Approvals Scheme (DAOS) Exposition, assessing proposed changes to the MAA’s Regulatory Publications for their impact upon the DAOS Exposition and Company processes and procedures.
• Contribute within appropriate Company and G2E Domain working groups to monitor proposed changes to the Regulatory Environment, assess their impact and advise as to appropriate response.
• Working alongside GCAP Edgewing and G2E partners to develop an understanding of and development of a single tri-national approach towards delivery of airworthy systems to support the GCAP.

What You’ll Bring:

Essential:

• A background in aerospace engineering specialising in airworthiness certification, with an associated master’s level qualification.
• Proven hands-on experience working with UK Military Aviation Authority or civil equivalents (EASA, CAA, etc) in the airworthiness certification of air systems.
• Hands on experience with the development and maintenance of Design Organisation Approval Expositions.
• A solid working knowledge of airworthiness regulations e.g. UK MAA MRP, EASA CS-25, Def Stan 00-970, EDA EMAR Part 21, MIL-HDBK-516, etc.
• Experience supporting design reviews, audits, and regulatory compliance meetings.
• Hands on experience interpreting regulator notices of proposed amendments and notices of authorised amendments for their impact on the DAOS Exposition and associated processes.
• Excellent technical writing and reviewing skills for safety reports, compliance documentation, and certification submissions.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of software and complex electronic hardware certification standards (DO-178C, DO-254, DO-297) and an awareness of airworthiness safety assessment standard e.g. ARP4754B, ARP4761A, Def Stan 00-56, Def Stan 00-55, and associated methodologies e.g. FHA, PSSA, SSA, FMEA, FTA, etc.
• Experience in the certification of novel technologies e.g. additive manufacturing.
• Working within multi-national teams.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or contributing to capability development.
• Experience in the management of Maintenance and Production organisation schemes and associated expositions.
• Experience in Configuration Management.

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, 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 & 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.

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.

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.

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