Principal/Lead Systems Engineer (DA) in Southampton

Overview

Leonardo Southampton, United Kingdom

Role: Principal or Lead Systems Engineer with the Comms and Force Protection business group, covering Naval Systems.

Location: GB – Southampton
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Hybrid

Your impact

Are you a Systems Engineer who loves contributing to the UKs Defence Industry and making impactful change? We are looking for a Principal or Lead Systems Engineer to join the Comms and Force Protection business group, covering Naval Systems. Within the Naval Systems IPT, the projects are diverse and exciting, with a portfolio spanning core products in service, forward-looking developments, tech demonstrators and research projects. The role involves close customer intimacy and collaboration across the industry to achieve a market-leading position in RF, Comms and Networking domains. The Principal or Lead Systems Engineer will be at the heart of technologies and projects across the full engineering lifecycle.

The role works as part of a multi-disciplinary IPT, supporting Chief Project Engineers who are the technical leaders for products and projects, pushing the boundaries of innovation, technology and engineering to meet performance and capability requirements for various customers.

What You’ll Do

• Own the technical solution for your system or sub-system, across all phases of solution development, representing Leonardo with external stakeholders and the Line of Business internally to ensure all elements of Product development are considered as part of the integrated solution
• Act as technical lead on the project, ensuring governance is followed and keeping up to date on related processes and requirements
• Collaborate with the SDA and wider development teams and supply chain to ensure system/sub-system development meets higher-level requirements and user needs
• Ensure compliance with performance, legislative and contractual requirements, with a traceable evidence set and clear management of deviations
• Support the assembly of evidence to validate, verify and qualify for a Certificate of Design or Declaration of Design Performance
• Trade off quality, performance, cost and time to establish a technical solution coherent with budgets and timescales
• Provide technical direction, control, evaluation and recommendations regarding risks and opportunities
• Lead and mentor junior technical team members to enable an effective design programme and quality results
• Manage and communicate issues and opportunities to the Systems Design Authority

What You’ll Bring

The Principal or Lead Systems Engineer will need to:

• Be able to achieve Design Authority (DA) status for systems/sub-systems, approved by the SDA and Chief Engineer Design Integrity, under the Leonardo Design Integrity framework
• Lead technically within their area of specialism to ensure products are implemented per SDA-approved design/architecture
• Ensure independent product assurance through Design Reviews and adherence to company processes (e.g., functional reviews)
• Be responsible for delivered product design, compliance, safety and integrity under SDA supervision
• Work as part of a multi-disciplined project team with key stakeholders

Must-have Experience

• Strong background in development of complex military products
• Experience developing systems solutions in at least one of IP networking, RF or Comms domains
• Experience with Requirements, Test, Qualification and Acceptance strategies
• Experience managing Design Standard and Configuration Management
• Experience in gaining Design Certification and Customer Acceptance
• Ability to develop technical solutions compliant with requirements within programme budgets and timescales
• Ability to produce innovative system solutions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with SMEs and End Users of various nationalities
• Self-motivated leader and team player capable of working with minimal direction

Nice-to-have

• Knowledge of IP networking, RF and Comms equipment in the customer domain
• Experience developing products for Naval platforms
• Knowledge of Training Development
• Knowledge of Software Development
• Degree in Engineering or Science (or equivalent)
• Chartered engineer / IET member
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills

This is not an exhaustive list; we welcome applicants who may not have experience in all areas. The most important attribute is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening under the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, including eligibility for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information visit https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

Leonardo offers a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package supporting wellbeing, career development and work–life balance. Benefits include:

• Time to Recharge – up to 12 flexi-days per year
• Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution
• Wellbeing support and employee networks
• Bonus scheme for management level and below
• Access to 4,000+ online courses
• Refer a friend rewards
• Flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, lifestyle discounts
• Flexible working with hybrid options

For a full list of benefits, please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence and Security with 53,000+ employees worldwide. We are committed to an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace. If you have accessibility requirements, please let us know. Be part of something bigger – apply now!

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Job function

• Other, Information Technology, and Engineering

Industries

• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• Computer and Network Security