Chief Project Engineer

You will have proven experience in a similar senior role and a solid working knowledge Electronic and Optical systems.

A strong background in development of complex products

Experience of working with Requirements, Test Qualification and Acceptance strategies.

Experience of managing the Design Standard and associated Configuration Management.

Experience in gaining Design Certification and Customer Acceptance.

Have the ability to produce and develop innovative technical and system solutions, compliant with requirements within agreed programme budgets and timescales.

Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to be able to interact with SMEs and End Users of various nationalities regarding a wide range of technical and operational topics.

Be a self-motivated leader and team player capable of working with minimum direction.

As a particular focus area for this role, the candidate should have experience and competence in the field of semi-active laser guidance. This may include:

Experience with laser guidance concepts of operation, including designation schemes such as STANAG 3733

Familiarity with laser physics and propagation

Detailed knowledge of photodiode detectors and analogue electronics operating across an ultra-low noise and wide dynamic range regime

Detailed knowledge of embedded signal processing

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.

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

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!