Systems Engineer – All Levels
Job Description
Salary Range
- Systems Engineer £38,000 – £48,000
- Senior Systems Engineer £44,500 – £56,000
- Principal Systems Engineer £53,500 – £68,000
- Lead Systems Engineer £59,500 – £75,000
Your Impact
At Leonardo, we solve real-world engineering challenges, designing and developing mission-critical solutions that power some of the world’s most advanced defence and security systems.
Key Projects
- Radar systems for fighter jets like the Typhoon and SAAB Gripen
- GCAP – Future Generation Radar & Electro-Optical Targeting products
- Infra-Red Counter Measures (IRCM) systems
- Laser target designators and ranging systems
- Surveillance AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars
What you’ll bring
Contributing to early-stage concept studies, investigating the impact of new technology on future platforms.
Engage with stakeholders to translate operational needs into engineering solutions. Develop and integrate system functionality, considering hardware limitations and real-world constraints.
Model, simulate, and analyse system performance to drive design decisions.
Troubleshoot and refine existing systems, identifying improvements through real-world testing.
Responsibilities / Key Competencies
- Problem Definition & Systems Thinking: Break down complex engineering problems into structured, solvable components; define clear system-level requirements based on stakeholder needs.
- Systems Architecture & Modelling: Design and develop high-performance system architectures using MBSE; use Simulink, MATLAB, or synthetic environments to simulate and refine system behaviour.
- Data Processing & Analysis: Apply signal processing, image processing, and object classification techniques to extract actionable insights; develop multi-sensor data fusion and tracking capabilities for real-time applications.
- Integration, Testing & Validation: Investigate system anomalies using real trial data; design and execute V&V strategies across the entire system lifecycle.
- Collaboration & Leadership: Work alongside multidisciplinary teams to develop and prototype cutting-edge defence solutions; depending on experience, lead technical initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and influence engineering roadmaps.
- What else would help: Proven experience leading systems engineering projects from design to implementation; be passionate about systems; ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities effectively; a science-based Honours degree or equivalent industry experience.
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, which could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit:
Benefits
- 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.
Location & Employment Details
Primary Location: Edinburgh, UK
Additional Locations: Newcastle, UK
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Onsite
