Sector Chief Engineer in Luton

Would you like the opportunity to be at the heart of a highly complex engineering challenge, that will shape the future of military aviation in the UK for years to come? We are seeking an outstanding technical leader to join Leonardo as Sector Chief Engineer for the Future Combat Air (FCA) Line of Business—a pivotal role at the heart of the UK’s next‑generation combat air capability.

In this highly visible and strategically critical position, you will provide technical direction and leadership to an exceptionally talented team of multi-disciplined engineers spanning multiple programmes, including Team Tempest, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and other classified activities. Together, these programmes are shaping the future of the RAF’s next‑generation fighter aircraft.

This role requires primarily on-site working at our Capability Green site in Luton due to national security considerations, with occasional UK and international travel. You must already hold, or be eligible to obtain, Developed Vetting (DV) National Security clearance.

What you will do as a Sector Chief Engineer:

• Provide overall technical leadership and authority across FCA engineering activities.
• Ensure engineering outputs meet customer requirements and comply with company engineering processes and safety, security, and airworthiness regulatory requirements.
• Set the technical direction through leadership of System Design Authorities (SDA), Systems Architects, and Technical Specialists.
• Lead, mentor, develop and recruit the SDA technical community and chair the FCA Chief Engineers Forum.
• Act as the senior technical reviewer and authorised signatory within FCA.
• Represent Leonardo in senior-level government customer and industry partner engagements.
• Lead complex technical investigations and resolve technical conflicts and priorities.
• Drive design commonality, reuse, and modularity across all engineering disciplines, ensuring that the highest levels of Engineering standards are maintained and the integrity of design solutions are assured.
• Shape technology and product roadmaps in collaboration with Design Integrity, Capability Management and external customers.
• Champion continuous engineering improvement and support strategic initiatives led by the VP Engineering (FCA).

What you’ll bring:

This role offers a unique chance to make a real impact on national security and contribute to a programme that is vital to the future of combat aviation. If you’re a visionary leader with a passion for defence technology, and a commitment to engineering excellence, we’d love to hear from you.

You Really Must Have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• A strong technical background in the design, qualification and certification of mission critical equipment.
• Significant depth of technical leadership experience spanning the entire engineering lifecycle, including systems and platform integration, and the application of relevant design assurance processes and standards.
• A structured approach to technical problem solving, excellent communication skills, and experience of providing technical leadership to engineering teams.
• On the path to achieving professional registration as a Chartered Engineer.

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 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

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid