Leonardo
Principal / Lead Systems Engineer - Naval
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Principal or Lead Systems Engineer – Naval Systems (CEMA & ICS)
Your Impact
Are you a Systems Engineer passionate about contributing to the UK’s Defence Industry and delivering impactful change?
We’re seeking a Principal or Lead Systems Engineer to provide technical support within Leonardo’s Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities (CEMA) and Integrated Communication Systems (ICS) business group, specialising in Naval Systems.
Within the Naval Systems Integrated Project Team (IPT), you’ll engage in diverse and exciting projects—from long-standing core products to technological demonstrators and research. Through customer intimacy and fostering collaboration across industry partners, we aim to secure a market-leading position in RF, Communications, and Networking domains. This role offers the opportunity to shape cutting-edge technology and engineering projects across the entire lifecycle.
As a Principal/Lead Systems Engineer, you’ll work as part of a multi-disciplinary IPT, supporting the Chief Project Engineers—the technical leaders for our products and projects. Your contributions will drive innovation, push technological boundaries, and deliver optimal performance and capability for our customers.
Key Responsibility Areas
- Own and represent technical solutions for systems/sub-systems, collaborating with external stakeholders and internal teams, ensuring seamless integration into product development.
- Ensure governance compliance—apply relevant processes, maintain traceable documentation, and resolve deviations.
- Align subsystem development with higher-level system requirements, end-user needs, and operating concepts.
- Verify compliance with performance, legislative, and contractual requirements while compiling evidence for Certificates of Design or Declaration of Design Performance.
- Execute qualitative trade-offs ensuring robustness in quality, performance, cost, and timescales.
- Provide technical leadership, risk evaluation, and mitigation strategies for systems/sub-systems.
- Mentor and lead junior team members to optimise design programmes and product outcomes.
- Manage and communicate issues/opportunities to the Systems Design Authority (SDA).
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What You'll Bring
Core Requirements
You must demonstrate:
- Design Authority (DA) potential for systems/sub-systems, aligned with Leonardo’s Design Integrity framework.
- Leadership in an established military product development background.
- Expertise in RF/Comms/IP networking, with experience in requirements, testing, qualification, and acceptance strategies.
- Proficiency in configuration management (in line with the Design Standard).
- Experience in gaining design certification and achieving customer acceptance.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver innovative, compliant solutions under programme budgets and schedules.
- Excellent communication skills—able to engage with SMEs and end-users (multinational stakeholders) across technical/operational domains.
- Self-motivated leadership with the initiative to deliver without excessive direction.
Preferred Attributes (Bonus)
While not mandatory:
- Naval platform experience or domain knowledge in IP networking/RF/Comms.
- Familiarity with training development or software engineering.
- Degree in engineering/science or equivalent.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or IET affiliation.
- Strong analytical problem-solving skills.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
The list isn’t exhaustive—passion and adaptability matter even more!
Security Clearance
This role requires adherence to the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Additional National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, including Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). Learn more.
Salary Range
- Principal Engineer: £54k–£71k
- Lead Engineer: £67k–£81k
Leonardo operates a grade-based structure with flexible, board-approved salary bands.
Why Join Leonardo?
At Leonardo, our people are our priority. Enjoy:
- Generous leave (up to 12 flexi-days per year).
- Pension scheme—up to 15% employer contribution.
- Full access to mental health support, campaigns (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, etc.).
- Performance bonus for managers and below.
- Free access to 4,000+ online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning).
- Financial rewards for colleague referrals.
- Personalised benefit allowance – up to £500 for private health, dental, discounts, and more.
- Flexible/hybrid work options (remote availability negotiable).
*For full details, visit our benefits site。
Driving innovation in Aerospace, Defence, and Security—join a workforce shaping global safety.
Leonardo is an equal opportunities employer. If accessibility adjustments are needed at any stage, let us know!
Apply now and be part of something bigger!
Primary Location: GB – Southampton Type: Permanent Working Arrangement: Hybrid
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills