Head of Software Engineering (EW) in Watford

hackajob is collaborating with Leonardo to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role. All potential candidates should read through the following details of this job with care before making an application.

Salary Range: £77,760 - £117,058

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

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Software Engineering in the Electronic Warfare (EW) line of business, covering our Luton, Lincoln and Bristol. Within the EW line of business, it is our mission to develop and deliver solutions that protect lives and enhance mission effectiveness. Delivering capability through technology, EW brings capability to the frontline. Our technology counters exploits in the Electromagnetic Spectrum to provide operators with situational awareness and the ability to protect the platforms and passengers from threats in the air domain.

You will lead the EW software community of around 180 engineers across the breadth of our three capability areas of Sensors, Data Fusion and Effectors to design, develop and deliver effective software solutions. Your responsibilities will span the Luton (Primary), Lincoln and Bristol locations, alongside contributing to the UK Software Engineering strategy.

As Head of Software, you will be responsible for:

• Timely delivery of capability and capacity for Software development, including recruitment and training, establishing an end-to-end talent pipeline across the full career map.
• Drive improvements into Software Project delivery considering improved estimation, project monitoring and timely interventions.
• The Software Development Process, Toolchain, Resource and Technology strategy and its delivery to the business.
• Working closely with business sector stakeholders, Engineering Leadership and Product Architects in developing product and technology roadmaps.
• Providing strategic technical leadership and ensuring consistent technical excellence across the EW portfolio.
• Acting as the single point of process authority for the sector.
• Identifying, championing and driving improvement activities into the software function at local and UK level.
• Collaborating with other areas of Engineering to achieve a coherent and integrated Engineering process and toolchain.
• Knowledge acquisition and knowledge sharing through participation in industry bodies, partnerships, conferences, benchmarking and recruitment.
• The identification and management of long-term resource and technology partners.
• Process Governance, Legislative and Standards compliance.
• Cost Centre management, budget control and strategic planning.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong leadership capabilities are essential to drive technical excellence and team performance.
• A strategic mindset, clear decision-making, and the ability to inspire and guide software teams through complex engineering challenges.
• Strong software design background to work with our product architects to realise a coherent software design and technology strategy.
• Experience of one or more of the following would be ideal: Agile Transformation, Component Architectures, Model Driven Engineering, Digital Transformation, Embedded Software, Avionics Software.
• Experience of developing software following industry standards such as RTCA/DO-178C, IEC61508 or ISO26262 for example.
• A proven track record in fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while effectively communicating vision, priorities, and feedback.
• Managing a broad range of technical and management stakeholder expectations and delivering high-impact solutions is essential.
• This role demands resilience, integrity, and a passion for empowering others to succeed.

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).

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 - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane, GB - Lincoln

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Onsite