Project Engineering Lead

Job Overview

Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for a Project Engineering Lead (PEL) to join the engineering team and drive the delivery of a major Combat Air programme within the systems domain. This hybrid role is predominantly based at our site in Capability Green, Luton, with limited remote working negotiable. The Combat Air line of business deals with both legacy and blue‑sky developments feeding directly into the Eurofighter platform across multiple technological disciplines. This role encompasses a leadership position within the systems domain in support of a blue‑sky development activity and can feed into multiple opportunities in the future.

The PEL combines effective people skills, leadership, and technical acumen to provide both technical support and management across the systems team, the pivotal engineering function. The role involves the technical coordination of internal engineering activities and close engagement with a number of customers and subcontract organizations.

The PEL will be responsible for delivering the technical solution to meet programme requirements; managing the systems team with direct line management; working with the Project Engineering Manager to deliver on cost and schedule; and supporting customer relations, engineering management plans, and lifecycle standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Agree, maintain, manage and report on the overall engineering plan for the systems function, establishing key performance measures, milestones and interdependencies.
• Ensure an effective interface between the systems team and the formal schedule.
• Deliver engineering solutions on time, to cost, quality and process.
• Own engineering estimation and resourcing requirements, including customer tasking.
• Manage engineering resources deployed on the projects, ensuring roles and objectives are clearly defined.
• Manage the interface between engineering and other functions, establishing and maintaining good lines of communication across the Integrated Project Team.
• Develop good working relationships with internal stakeholders, customers and suppliers to ensure an open and collaborative project environment.
• Work closely with the project design authority and subject‑matter experts to resolve technical issues and customer queries, providing metrics and reports to the customer as required.
• Work closely with safety, security and Design Integrity authorities to ensure that delivered technical solutions meet performance, contractual and legislative requirements.
• Manage technical risks and opportunities, including associated mitigation strategies.
• Ensure effective implementation of the design maturity review process and track enabling maturity as part of the overall programme.
• Be responsible for system engineering aspects of the monthly Project Performance Reviews and contractual customer reviews.
• Ensure project configuration, quality and change management are implemented effectively to process.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience leading technical programmes, driving technical delivery alongside team management to create a high‑performing team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong working relationships internally and externally, communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders across multiple sites.
• Experience working effectively with suppliers and customers in the UK and abroad.
• Proven experience and knowledge of lifecycle management, risk management, project execution and business processes.
• Ability to produce clear, concise engineering documentation.
• Self‑motivation with a strong aptitude for problem‑solving and decision‑making within projects involving complexity and uncertainty.
• A proactive approach with a “can‑do” attitude, striving for continuous improvement, effectiveness and efficiency.
• Effective planning and schedule management skills with proven work package definition, delegation and empowerment strategies.

Beneficial Experience

• Experience working in the defence electronics sector.
• Knowledge of defence aid systems or avionics equipment.
• Knowledge of aviation qualification for complex electronic equipment.
• Knowledge of planning tools such as P6.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodology.

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, including eligibility for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information, visit

Benefits

• Generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Rewarding pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Free access to mental health support, financial advice and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity.
• Bonus scheme for employees at management level and below.
• Free access to over 4,000 online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend financial reward through the referral programme.
• Flexible benefits: spend up to £500 annually on private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working hours with hybrid working options.

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