Principal Software Engineer – Test Environments (GCAP) in Luton

Salary Range: £54,000 - £70,000

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

Can you develop Test Environments for a complex aerospace programme, from strategy through to implementation? Would you like a once-in-a-generation opportunity to play a key role in a defence programme of national and international importance? Working within the Future Combat Air Line of Business, you will help deliver robust test capabilities for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), including test rigs, integrated test solutions, simulation environments, bespoke software, and test frameworks. GCAP will deliver Tempest, the sixth-generation combat aircraft that will replace the Royal Air Force's Typhoon fleet from 2035. Leonardo UK is leading the development of advanced Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects (ISANKE) and Integrated Communications System (ICS) technologies, including sensing, communications, data fusion, machine learning, and defensive aids systems. Working closely with the Ministry of Defence and international industry partners, you will play a key role in the development, integration, verification, and validation of these advanced capabilities. This role can be based at any Leonardo Electronics UK site and will involve occasional travel.

What You’ll Do

• Develop software and test solutions that support physical and digital test capabilities.
• Deliver test environments across multiple levels, from subsystem integration through to hardware-in-the-loop and simulation environments.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define Test Environment requirements and support programme objectives.
• Contribute to the GCAP ISANKE and ICS Test Environments roadmap.
• Support the delivery of innovative test and compliance solutions across the programme.
• Work with Engineering, Procurement, IT, and Manufacturing teams to enable both synthetic and airborne trials.
• Deliver solutions to agreed cost, schedule, and quality targets, while supporting proof-of-concept and demonstration activities within the UK and internationally, particularly to Italy and Japan.

What You'll Bring

You will have a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, together with experience delivering software solutions within a complex engineering environment. We are looking for candidates with experience in:

• Software development across the full engineering lifecycle using Agile methodologies.
• Developing test environments, test frameworks, or test automation solutions.
• Simulation, modelling, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), or systems integration activities.
• Working with systems engineers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Requirements capture, verification, validation, and acceptance activities.
• Digital engineering approaches and hybrid physical/synthetic test environments.
• Software architectures, interfaces, and data integration within complex systems.
• Engineering governance, quality standards, and regulated environments.

This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every requirement. The most important attributes are a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a passion for solving complex engineering challenges.

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!

Primary Location: GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Additional Locations: GB - Basildon, GB - Edinburgh, GB - Lincoln, GB - Newcastle, GB - Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Onsite