Leonardo
Project Engineering Lead

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Project Engineering Lead
Job Description: The Opportunity: 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. This Project Engineering Lead (PEL) vacancy is within the Integrated Mission Solutions (IMS) sector of the Electronic Warfare LoB and will be assigned to the Mission Support Products Integrated Project Team (IPT). The PEL is responsible for the day-to-day engineering management of projects assigned to them, reporting into the Project Engineering Manager (PEM). The PEL works with the Project Engineering Manager and ensures they are kept informed of the engineering status (progress, spend, risks, metrics) and supports the IPT in internal and external engagements. The PEL helps develop their Engineering Team providing mentoring, coaching and setting objectives and appraising them of their performance. This engineering lead role will be split across contract delivery and business winning, providing engineering management, direction and leadership for several customers and end users. This opportunity is based from the Luton office, and benefits from hybrid working. What you’ll do as a Project Engineering Lead · Lead the Engineering / Engineering Bid aspects of the Project, ensuring technical quality, schedule and budget management. · Line management of cross-site, multi-disciplined engineering teams, ensuring that roles within the teams are clearly defined. · Create a positive working relationship with customers and partners, to deliver project capability. · Establish and maintain good lines of communication internally across the Engineering IPT, with the IPT lead, Project Manager, functional heads. · Work closely with the Chief Engineer / Systems Design Authority ensuring they are fully informed on technical progress, technical risk and any mitigation strategies. · Ensuring the design solution meets the end user requirement, is reliable, fully documented and works within its designated environment. · Ensure the design solution is compatible with the business area route map. · Control project configuration and change management to ensure design reuse is maximised. · Support the management of Suppliers and project Make or Buy decisions. · Travel within the UK, working alongside other teams within Leonardo, Customers, End Users and Industry Partners. There is also the potential for some overseas travel. What we need from you: You really must have: · Experience in early engineering lifecycle phases. · Experience in engineering bid delivering. · Experience in engineering management and delivery of projects. · Engineering or scientific Degree qualification (or equivalent). · Excellent communication skills and be able to provide clear direction to team members. · Ability to manage complex situations with sound judgement and the ability to balance conflicting challenges. · Commercial and business awareness. · Experience of working across the full life cycle. It would be nice if you had experience of: · The military domain. · Agile Methodologies. · DevOps based tools. · Problem Definition, Requirements elicitation and defining software products. · Development and certification of airborne equipment. · New Product Introduction. · Outsourcing complex engineering work packages. 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, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting 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. Primary Location: GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300 Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working: Hybrid International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo. The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know-how across the generations. Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt 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.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
“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
Location