Principal/Lead Systems Engineer (Security)

Job Description:

Your impact

Are you a Systems Engineer who loves contributing to the UKs Defence Industry and making impactful change? Leonardo has a fantastic opportunity for an Engineer to be responsible for the design and development of security related functionality required to support our next generation airborne communications system. This role will involve engaging with other areas of the project, the project security function, international partners and the customer. You will be working on real Engineering problems, designing and developing solutions that sit at the heart of our products.

What you'll do

• Management of system requirements.
• Feasibility studies to determine system architecture.
• Modelling of security functionality.
• Producing clear and concise technical documentation for your work.
• Support to the Project Engineering Lead to plan and develop work packages and subsequent reporting against these.
• Displaying good team working behaviours and taking a responsibility to manage your own work load in conjunction with the team
• Engaging with customers and suppliers as necessary

What you’ll bring

Required

• Experience in the development of military and/or civil communication systems.
• Experience in security protocols such as authentication and encryption
• Ability to produce detailed technical reports.
• Graduate degree in relevant engineering, mathematics or related scientific discipline.

Ideally

• Knowledge of embedded system development.
• Knowledge of firmware development.
• Knowledge of UK high grade requirements.

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

Successful candidates will need to be current UK nationals. 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:

Salary Range:

• Principal Engineer £54k - £71k

• Lead Engineer - £67k - £81k

Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment.

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