Lead Systems Engineer - MKO Radar Modes in Newcastle upon Tyne

Salary £59,500 - £75,000. 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

There is a need for a Lead Systems Engineer / Specialist to work on Radar Mode development within the Mk0 Systems Engineering Team. A core element of the role is leading the development of algorithms for the Signal Processor, and the successful applicant will also be expected to take on a broad involvement in all aspects of radar operation and processing. In addition, this role will also require direct collaboration with our EuroRADAR partners. The Systems Engineering team operate across the full lifecycle, and so the work will span Mode model development, requirements & algorithm definition, design change management, software implementation support, integration support, trials support & analysis, and verification & validation. This will be a highly visible role in a programme that is in its most exciting phase, currently in active service with export customers and progressing at pace through capability and maturity upgrades. The dynamic, fast‑paced and full‑lifecycle nature of the role makes this an ideal springboard for candidates aspiring to develop towards becoming a Chief Engineer.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the Mk0 Radar Modes team (a sub‑team within Mk0 Systems Engineering).
• Own the maturation and development of all Mk0 Radar Modes, maintaining the plan for routemap of development work on these modes and leading their team to successfully deliver the routemap.
• Carry out the full range of activities associated with radar mode design and verification / validation.
• Play a leading role in support to planning of trials activity (ground rig and flight trials), specifically for radar modes, and perform analysis on the resulting trials data.
• Develop design solutions to address problems and capability gaps.
• Present analysis results and proposed design updates to stakeholders and successfully lead design updates through the change process.
• Take ownership of the configuration and maintenance of models and analysis tools, along with supporting documentation.

It is expected that this role will require active involvement in design and development activities for Radar Modes, although some of this will be delegated to engineers within the team. As the Lead Engineer / Specialist, the successful applicant will also be expected to coach and develop this team and have overall ownership of the technical design and delivery in this area.

What You’ll Bring

• On top of an Engineering/Physics/Applied Maths or equivalent background, and ideally Radar Systems Engineering or Signal Processing experience, the successful candidate will demonstrate good coverage across the following attributes.
• Possess a good knowledge of radar principles and associated processing techniques, particularly of signal processing and associated detection theory.
• Be able to provide a focus on signal processing, but with a good understanding of other aspects of the system including radar control and tracking, and how these interact.
• Experience of supervising a team of Systems engineers.
• Know how to build and maintain complex systems models and analysis tools.
• Demonstrate the skills to perform data analysis of large data sets, using automated processing where appropriate.
• Possess good investigative and problem‑solving skills.
• In‑depth experience of presenting to and influencing stakeholders from all functions and levels, based on strong technical competence and good reasoning skills.
• Proven experience in roles requiring sound engineering judgement whilst operating in a fast‑paced environment, balancing this with technical rigour and quality in the design solution.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you do not feel you have depth of experience across all areas in the above.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Additional Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, which could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Why Join Us

• Time to Recharge – 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.

Location

Primary: Edinburgh, GB. Additional: Newcastle, GB.

Contract & Working

Contract Type: Permanent. Hybrid Working: Hybrid.