Principal Systems Engineer in Old Town

Salary: £53,500 - £68,000

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

This Systems Engineering vacancy presents an exciting opportunity for an individual to develop and grow into a pivotal post at Leonardo, supporting the development of the Captor-E ECRS Mk0 Radar. This is a hands-on role, primarily based within a lab environment, supporting the development, integration, testing, evaluation, analysis and sell-off activities required for the Captor-E ECRS Mk0 Radar System. This will include formal testing, test data analysis and capturing of System level Qualification and Verification test evidence. Problem solving and fault diagnosis under sometimes challenging circumstances is a critical part of the role. The job currently requires shift working on a 4-day late backshift (Monday to Thursday). Shift working is at project discretion and is not guaranteed long term.

What you’ll do

• Support the Rooflab Integration Lead to undertake tasks as part of a wider programme to integrate new functionality into the existing CAPTOR-E ECRS Mk0 Radar System.
• Technical aptitude and willingness to learn about existing systems and the ability to address the challenges of introducing new technologies into pre-existing equipment.
• Interact with a range of technical & non-technical project stakeholders across multiple disciplines.
• Actively support knowledge sharing and exploitation of best practice.
• Support the development of younger members of the team.
• This role is predominantly office based but occasional UK/Europe travel may be required to support the programme.
• Occasional support to ground and/or flight trials will be required off-site.
• This is a hands-on role, where the Systems Engineer is expected to undertake active participation in integration and testing of in-service Radar Systems including a mixture of informal / ad hoc testing and detailed / formal test procedures.
• Closely work with other engineers from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds in the resolution of complex problems.
• Maintenance of the prime Radar system and supporting test equipment within a lab-based environment.

What you’ll bring

• Experience in the Systems Engineering lifecycle.
• Good knowledge of Radar RF electronic technology, performance and operational concepts.
• Familiarity of a broad range of test and measurement, including Bus Analysers, Spectrum Analysers, RF Power Meters, Vector Network Analysers and Oscilloscopes.
• Previous Captor Radar experience is preferred but not mandatory.
• Manual handling of Radar and Test equipment is associated with this role.
• Experience of the Systems Engineering life cycle from development and management of requirements (preferably using DOORS) through to acceptance testing is desirable.
• Experience of Data analysis.
• Experience of Test card writing.
• Experience with Matlab for modelling and data analysis is desirable.
• Experience with Python programming is desirable.
• Must be PC literate and familiar with MS Office suite.
• Experience of configuration management and control.
• High degree of interpersonal skill with the ability to present reasoned arguments in a robust and professional manner.
• Ability to effectively manage own time, potentially across multiple activities.
• Attain or have current UK SC clearance, with requirement to attain DV clearance, dependent upon business needs.

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).

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!