Lead Software Engineer

We are seeking experienced Lead Software Engineers to take on pivotal Technical Authority roles within our Electronic Warfare (EW) and Future Combat Air programmes based in Luton.

This role combines technical leadership with strategic influence, offering significant autonomy and responsibility for critical software components or entire projects.

• Several years of embedded software engineering experience in aerospace, defence, or other mission/safety-critical domains.
• Ability to set technical direction, defining software architecture and design strategies aligned with platform and system goals.
• Experience ensuring compliance with DO-178C standards or equivalent, and adherence to internal governance processes.
• Strong skills in technical risk identification and mitigation across software components.
• Hands-on delivery of DO-178C software or equivalent, with lifecycle experience from requirements through to certification.
• A background in technical leadership, including architectural design, risk mitigation, or technical governance.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach engineers, uplifting capability and promoting software engineering excellence.
• Familiarity with legacy systems, export controls, interoperability, and long-term product evolution.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines, working closely with systems, hardware, and firmware teams to ensure coherent integration.
• Commitment to championing design integrity, acting as the accountable technical lead during audits and reviews.

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