Leonardo · Southampton, United Kingdom

Job Description: Are you an experienced Systems Engineer or Scientist who loves contributing to the UKs Defence Industry and making impactful change? We are recruiting for Senior and Principal Systems Engineers in our growing Detectors Area of Business in Southampton, who can apply their expertise to deliver cutting-edge Electro-Optics/InfraRed (EO/IR) capabilities across a diverse range of projects. Your Impact Our Systems Engineers span across a range of activities that help pull together all the necessary engineering and technology strands into a high-performance system. As a Systems Engineer, you will bridge the gap between the theoretically possible and the practically implementable. What we build is exciting, interesting, challenging and complex. A diverse product portfolio of EO/IR technologies, with each programme at a different stage in its development lifecycle. Typical work you might be involved in: Applied research: Early research looking into exploiting new EO/IR technologies or concepts. Requirements capture, definition, development, modelling, manufacture, test, and verification of EO/IR technologies. Applying and improving systems engineering processes across the full lifecycle. Collaborating with integrated project teams to design, build, and deliver EO/IR equipment. To be successful you will demonstrate passion for your trade by instilling a systems-thinking approach based on experience forming and leading high performing teams. You will be able to influence those you work with, thrive in dynamic environments, demonstrate resilience when faced with adversity and able to make decisions quickly under pressure and setting a clear technical vision for the project team. Given the extensive people engagement nature of the work, we are still able to offer custom working that allows for a combination of home and on-site working i.e. flexible working delivering effective results. What you’ll bring You will be educated within a STEM area and have proven domain experience in EO/IR technologies, with the following attributes: Requirements capture and management, System definition and development, Modelling and analysis, Verification and validation, Full engineering lifecycle application, Experience with Model Based Design (MBD) tools and methodologies to support describing and analysing through the problem to implementation domains, Experience working in product development teams delivering Engineering artefacts successfully, Experience in managing and collaborating with internal/external stakeholders, Proven decision-making skills in a high complexity, dynamic environment, Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at different levels, Motivation, tenacity and determination, with a desire to deliver outputs and results. The following experience/skills are very desirable: Working experience and/or understanding of electronics design, PhD, EngD or Post-graduate degree in electro-optics, Practitioner level ability using Model Driven Engineering tools e.g. Cameo Systems Modeler, MATLAB, Simulink, Experience in using a requirement management tool to manage relationships of requirement and other project artefacts (DOORS, Polarion, Jama). 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). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting Salary Range: £44,000 - £71,400 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. Why join us 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 (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity). 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 - Southampton Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working: Hybrid

Leonardo · Madrid, Spain

Job Description: We are looking for a Technical Lead to join a cutting-edge space project focused on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) . In this role, you will act as the technical authority on behalf of TPZ, ensuring end-to-end system coherence across space, ground, and user segments , while leading requirements engineering, system design, and validation activities under the ECSS framework. You will play a key role in shaping the technical backbone of a highly innovative mission, contributing directly to secure communications of the future. Key Responsibilities Systems Engineering Lead and oversee system engineering activities, including high-level design of the complete LEO QKD system. Ensure technical and functional consistency across space segment (platform and quantum payload), ground segment (GCS, OGS, KMS), and user segment. Define and maintain the end-to-end system architecture and product tree. Requirements Engineering Lead the identification, analysis, and consolidation of mission and subsystem requirements (Ground Control Segment). Coordinate the definition of preliminary cybersecurity requirements across all segments. Support the definition of Mission Simulator requirements. Design & Development Lead the design of Ground Control Segment subsystems and the integration of the Quantum Uplink Node and its interfaces. Contribute to the Mission Simulator design. Integration, Verification & Validation (IVV) Define and supervise IVV plans at system and subsystem levels. Oversee verification documentation and test plan development. Ensure consistency between requirements, design, simulations, and test results. Operational Concept (CONOPS) Lead the definition and evolution of the end-to-end operational concept. Oversee key management processes, including generation, distribution, and demand planning. Coordinate mission planning and orchestration across space and ground segments. Technical Coordination Act as the cross-functional technical authority within an international consortium (industry, agencies, and research centers). Manage system interfaces and technical trade-offs at a global level. Required Skills & Knowledge Space Systems Engineering Expertise in ECSS standards and methodologies (New Space context preferred). Experience in LEO mission design and analysis. Strong understanding of complex end-to-end space system architectures. Quantum & Optical Communications Knowledge of Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC). Understanding of QKD systems and quantum communication principles. Familiarity with secure communication standards and European programs (EuroQCI, IRIS2). Ground Segment & Operations Experience with Mission Control Systems (MCS). Knowledge of mission planning and optimization. IVV & Requirements Management Strong background in validation and verification of complex systems. Experience with requirements traceability tools and methodologies. Ability to define test scenarios and acceptance criteria. Cybersecurity Understanding of system-level cybersecurity in space and communications systems. Experience applying “security-by-design” principles. Knowledge of QKD-related security concepts. Experience Required Minimum 10 years of experience in Systems Engineering for space missions or complex systems. Proven experience leading requirements and IVV activities in multi-stakeholder environments. Background in mission control systems design and operations planning. Experience in optical communications, satcom, or secure systems. Previous participation in international consortia (industry, agencies, research institutions). Why this role matters Drive the technical coherence of an end-to-end LEO QKD system . Reduce integration and technological risks in an innovative IOD mission. Enable the transition from early design to future operational systems . Take ownership of the Ground Control Segment specification and design. Seniority: Primary Location: ES - Madrid Additional Locations: ES - Barcellona Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working:

Leonardo · Southampton, United Kingdom

Job Description: Your impact Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for a Lead Systems Engineer/Design Authority (DA) to join its NATO JEWCS Integrated Project Team (IPT), within the CEMA and ICS Sector based across the south of the UK. We are producing the next generation Electronic Warfare (EW) Training System assets covering Land, Sea and Air together with an IT infrastructure to enable effective planning, programming and review for NATO exercises. As Lead Systems Engineer and Design Authority, you will be responsible for providing the technical oversight and expertise at all levels of the overall system solution, working with both internal and supplier design teams to ensure that the architecture of the overall system solution is developed and delivered to meet the Customer and business requirements. Working across the whole of the systems engineering lifecycle, as part of a multi-disciplined team, the successful candidate will seek advice from SMEs to review and advise on the creation and verification of subsystem technical solutions lead the directly supporting the Project Chief Engineer in ensuring the system and sub system designs are: fit for purpose and due consideration has been made for the integrity of the design compliant with customer requirements and required standard safety of the overall proposed architecture is maintained and assessed As a result, strong technical, delivery, and people leadership skills and abilities are essential in this role, particularly the ability to discuss and resolve complex technical problems in the EW domain. This role will see the successful candidate join the quickly expanding engineering team within the CEMA and ICS sector and take on a key role in shaping the future of the NATO JEWCS deployed solution combining use of COTS with the latest technologies and ensuring that they meet the needs of the customer. Work closely with the Project Chief Engineer to identify and resolve technical issues across the whole system and subsystems and to ensure the integrity of the solution. Deputise for the Project Chief Engineer within the project. Lead the architecture team to develop and document the architecture thought the project lifecycle. Influence all levels of requirements to enable design and development decisions and trade-offs to be made. Provide direction, control, evaluation and recommendations relating to technical risks and opportunities. Support test planning and requirements verification to achieve certification and delivery for the overall system. Working with and influencing key project stakeholders including customer and end users. Present Architecture material at Design reviews internally and externally for the overall system. Act as a technical interface between the end customer and the Leonardo Engineering team. Actively support knowledge sharing and exploitation of best practice. Support the guidance and development of junior Systems Engineers within the Engineering team. Contribute to the successful achievement of engineering milestones as an integrated part of the Prime team. Support and advise sub-system design teams through their design reviews. Travel within the UK and abroad to meet with our customers and industry partners. What you’ll bring Required A degree (or equivalent experience) in a STEM subject and strong numerical, analytical and design skills, with the ability to apply these to real world problems. Strong understanding of system and project lifecycles as applicable to delivery of sub-systems, technical and commercial baselines, and change control. Strong understanding of Systems Architecture activities as part of the Systems Lifecycle. Self-motivated with a strong aptitude for problem-solving and decision-making within projects involving design complexity and uncertainty. Strong experience of influencing system design and integration of a major system. Strong experience in stakeholder management within organisations and with customers (internal or external) in a high-pressure environment, pulling in technical expertise when and where appropriate. Experience of successfully passing Design Reviews and implementing potentially complex remedial actions with sub-contract equipment suppliers and Prime integration teams. Ideally Knowledge of military EW/radar passive and active RF. Strong understanding of systems integration and progressive assurance. Experience of making design decisions by trading-off alternate solution based on functionality, performance and cost. Chartered engineer / member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) 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). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting Salary Range: Lead Engineer £67k - £81k 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. Why join us 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 (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity). 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 - Southampton Additional Locations: GB - Basildon Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working: Hybrid