Chief Project Engineer

Overview

In this role you will act as the Design Authority for electro-optic systems within Leonardo’s Sensors sector, leading technical direction across the full engineering lifecycle. You’ll provide guidance to project teams, manage technical risk, and ensure compliance with safety and security requirements. You will work with customers and SMEs to define robust technical solutions that deliver value. This is a hands-on, leadership role at the heart of innovative defence projects with opportunities to shape product integrity and certification.

Pay / Benefits

• company-funded benefits package
• flexible hours and hybrid working
• pension scheme with employer contribution
• mental health support and financial advice
• access to online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning)
• bonus scheme eligibility

Responsibilities

• Serve as Design Authority and Company Technical Signatory for required products
• Represent Leonardo with external stakeholders to define technical solutions
• Conduct independent product assurance through Design Reviews and enforce procedures
• Own delivered product design, compliance, safety and integrity
• Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary project team with key stakeholders
• Promote continuous improvement for teams and products
• Own the technical solution across all development phases
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant processes and requirements
• Guide teams to assemble evidence for Design Integrity certification
• Ensure robust trade-offs on quality, performance, cost, and schedule
• Chair design reviews for products, systems and services
• Provide technical direction, risk assessment, and opportunity evaluation
• Set high-level requirements strategy and ensure traceable evidence
• Lead and mentor the technical team to deliver cost-effective designs
• Communicate issues and opportunities to engineering management and governance groups
• Define strategic capability improvements and development roadmaps

Key requirements

• Strong background in development of complex electronic and optical systems
• Experience with Requirements, Test, Qualification and Acceptance strategies
• Experience managing Design Standards and Configuration Management
• Experience gaining Design Certification and Customer Acceptance
• Ability to develop innovative technical solutions within budgets and timescales
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with SMEs and End Users of diverse nationalities
• Self-motivated leader capable of working with minimal direction
• Desirable: experience in semi-active laser guidance and related concepts
• Desirable: knowledge of laser physics, photodiode detectors, and embedded signal processing

• communication
• interpersonal skills
• leadership
• Electronic and Optical systems
• Requirements management
• Test Qualification and Acceptance strategies

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