Principal / Lead Systems Engineer

Overview

As a Lead/Principal Systems Engineer within Leonardo’s Precision Guidance team, you drive systems-level thinking across complex, multi-programme development. You’ll govern and improve systems engineering practices, guide cross-functional teams, and shape architectures that manage risk and predict emergent behaviours. You’ll engage with senior stakeholders, contribute to governance, and promote an agile, learning culture. This is a high-impact role at the heart of mission-critical defence technologies.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible/hybrid working
• pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution
• mental health support and wellbeing resources
• courses via Coursera/LinkedIn Learning
• referral programme
• private healthcare and lifestyle perks

Responsibilities

• Influence engineering artefacts, direction, and stakeholder satisfaction
• Work across large, complex development programmes spanning the full engineering lifecycle
• Act as the focal point for systems engineering governance on projects
• Coach engineers in systems engineering practices across lifecycle stages
• Ensure concepting, modelling and simulation techniques inform architectures and options
• Influence life-cycle design considerations including Safety, Security, Manufacture, Test, and Through Life Support
• Represent Leonardo in systems engineering bodies (e.g., INCOSE)
• Promote agile mindset and a culture of experimentation and learning
• Collaborate with peers to drive continual learning and improvement across the UK systems engineering community

Key requirements

• Lead or Principal Engineer experience or similar responsibilities
• Experience applying governance and guidance on Systems Engineering LCM process
• Experience in Integrated Project Teams delivering engineering artefacts
• Experience managing and collaborating with internal/external stakeholders
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high-complexity, dynamic environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to build trust across levels
• Motivation, tenacity and determination to deliver outputs and results

• leadership
• communication
• stakeholder management
• MBSE
• Model Based Design (MBD) tools/methodologies
• DOORS (classic)

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