Chief Systems Engineer

Leonardo are excited to offer a new and immediate opportunity for a Chief Systems Engineer.

Working at Line of Business level, you will support activities within our Integrated Sensing and Protection (ISP) business. This is a senior role that will branch over two Leonardo sites based at Basildon and Southampton and will involve UK wide interactions with counterparts performing a similar role at our other business areas.

The ISP Line of Business (LoB) has the vision to be the leader in the supply and integration of ISR & Force Protection electronic systems to our customers in the UK and further afield.

As part of our ISP LoB strategy and Systems Engineering Improvement Plan, we have created new and exciting roles aimed at transforming the way we operate.

About the Role

This is one of those new opportunities functioning across all three Business Areas (BA) within the LoB: Sensors, Comms & Force Protection and Mission Systems. As the Chief Systems Engineer you will act as the focal point for Systems Engineering Governance and trend our Systems Engineering capability in a positive direction. You will be the main point of contact on Systems Engineering capability and improvement matters across the Business Areas, providing proactive guidance to senior stakeholders on Systems Thinking and Methods for adoption that aligns with successful project execution.

What we build is exciting, interesting, challenging and complex. A diverse product portfolio of technologies, with each programme at a different stage in its development lifecycle. Given this complexity, it requires each programme to connect with the “Art of Systems Engineering” to ensure we are doing the right activities at the right time.

The focus of this role is to provide direction, guidance and expertise to ensure:

Our systems engineering team assess the problem completely

Our teams reuse techniques and artefacts across the portfolio of projects

Our teams manage complexity through architecting our systems well

Our teams predict and mitigate emergent behaviours when operating at a system or integrated systems level

Our projects create and enact the correct verification and validation strategy

To be successful you will be demonstrate passion for your trade by instilling a systems-thinking approach based on experience forming and leading high performing teams. Using your skills as an influencer, you will thrive in dynamic environments, with the ability to make decisions quickly under pressure and set a clear technical vision for the team on Systems Engineering methodologies.

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. Day to day duties include;

Influence the development of Engineering artefacts, their technical direction and ultimately stakeholder satisfaction

You will work across a highly demanding and complex area of the business, immersed in full-scale development programmes spanning the breadth of the engineering lifecycle across the ISR and Force Protection teams

Act as the point of contact for all things Systems Engineering to the Business Area Chief Engineer’s, Head of Engineering Project’s and Head of Systems Engineering (your reporting line will be to the ISP Head of Systems Engineering)

Act as the focal point for systems engineering governance, supporting Lifecycle Management (LCM) activities

Provide expertise and guidance to ensure our engineers understand the problem completely and stakeholder needs through effective coaching on Systems Engineering practices (early and later lifecycle stages)

Ensure the appropriate level of concepting, modelling and simulation techniques are used across the lifecycle to inform architectures and solution options

Influence whole life design considerations relating to Safety, Security, Manufacture, Test, Supportability, Through Life Support in line with company processes

Hold quarterly threat and mitigation reviews across the Business Area’s on project status and enabling initiatives (e.g. capability, capacity, competency)

Represent Leonardo within Systems Engineering bodies and groups of interest, such as INCOSE

Identify trends across the Business Area’s, capturing and sharing lessons learned to improve the quality and efficiency of future work

Promote an agile mind-set to systems engineering, building a culture of experimentation and failing fast

Collaborate with your peers in similar roles across the UK to promote a culture of continual learning and improvement, acting as a change agent for systems engineering

About You

You will have proven experience as a Chief Engineer (or role with similar responsibilities), with the following attributes;

Experience in applying governance and guidance on Systems Engineering LCM process

Experience working in Integrated Project Teams delivering Engineering artefacts successfully

Experience in eliciting stakeholder expectations

Experience in creating and defining architectures

Experience in managing and collaborating with internal/external stakeholders

Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high complexity, dynamic environment at a senior level

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at different levels (An effective influencer)

Motivation, tenacity and determination, with a desire to deliver outputs and results

The following experience/skills are very desirable;

Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering tools and methodologies

Experience working on largescale Systems Integration programmes, having managed issues associated with cost, schedule & quality implications

Domain experience any of the following specialisms; Telecommunications, RF, Electronic Warfare, Electro-Optics, Air/Land/Sea sub-system Platform Integration, Data Distribution Services, Sensor Fusion, AI/Machine Learning

Practitioner level ability using Model Driven Engineering tool e.g. Cameo Systems Modeler, Matlab, Simulink, DOORS (classic)

All successful applicants must be eligible for full security clearance and access to UK-caveated and ITAR controlled information. For more information and guidance, please visit:

What we Offer

A competitive salary based on your experience and skills and an award winning benefits package that includes;

Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us.

Company funded flexible benefits: Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance)

Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year

Pension: Award winning pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)

Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers)

Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme

Training: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera

Bonus: Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below

For a full list of our Company benefits please visit our website.

Primary Location: GB - Basildon

Additional Locations:GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane, GB - Southampton

Contract Type:

Hybrid Working:Hybrid

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