Systems Architect

At Leonardo we have a need for System Architects at all levels to support increasing numbers of large and complex Systems Integrator (SI) programmes being delivered and bid within Leonardo Integrated Sensors & Protection (ISP) business across Land, Naval & Airborne Comms domains.
Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 7,000 are UK-based.

The Integrated Sensors & Protection (ISP) line of business is based in Basildon and Southampton and has a rich heritage in Electronic Warfare and communications. Boasting over 100 years of history and providing the latest advances in radio frequency technology to our military customers in the UK and further afield.

We build interesting and challenging complex systems, with a diverse product portfolio of complex sensing and protective technologies. Given the complexity it requires a cross cutting approach to systems architectural development.

The role can be based from any of our UK sites and will be a mixture of home based/onsite working according to our new Custom Working initiative.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

• Flexible working: We offer our employees the time and flexibility they need to enjoy a balanced life through flexible hours and part time options
• Custom working: The role may be a mixture of home based and onsite
• Flexible benefits: Our company-funded approach to flexible benefits allows employees to make choices appropriate for them. Each employee has access to a wide choice of lifestyle, health and wellbeing options best suited to their individual lifestyle goals.
• Network groups : To support our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion, we have a range of network groups for colleagues :o Carers (employees caring for family or friends)o Enable (supporting people with disabilities)o Equalise (development of a gender balanced workforce)o Pride (promoting equality for all LGBTQ+ individuals)o Ethnicity Inclusion (developing a more ethnically based workforce)o Wellbeing (promoting & supporting employee wellbeing)
• Training : Free access to Coursera which provides more than 4,000 online courses
• Continuous Learning : You will be supported in your ongoing professional development through training and mentoring
• Investors in People : We are proud recipients of the Investors in People Silver Award
• Employee Assistance Programme : Providing free and confidential mental health support
• Annual leave: We offer 25 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays and 8 flexi days

To find out about all of our Company benefits please visit:

Key Responsibility Areas

As a Systems Architect for the ISP business, you will:

• Contribute to a clear Architectural Vision, supporting Capability roadmaps, for development of products in the short, medium and long term
• Support the continued development of Architecting methodologies in the Systems Engineering Function
• Apply System-of-System and product development approaches to ensure alignment and efficiencies across multiple projects
• Provide internal consultation and Systems Engineering expertise to support projects
• Support design reviews as a reviewing stakeholder
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to elicit system needs and constraints
• Derive functional and behavioural aspects of a system
• Conduct and document trade space analysis to inform key high-level design decisions
• Produce candidate solution architectures and derive requirements at all levels
• Apportion and budget performance across a system or system of systems
• Work with the Bid & Project Manager roles to estimate the cost based on alternative solutions and approaches
• Play an essential role in the broader Systems Engineering team, assisting with process tailoring and the roll out of best practice in MBSE, Systems Architecture and Systems Engineering
• Mentoring and coaching colleagues in core System Architecting skills and practices

You must be eligible for full security clearance. For more information and guidance please visit :

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge Required

We are looking for systems thinkers, who have:

• Broad experience across engineering lifecycles, with an emphasis on operational analysis and systems decomposition
• A record of addressing large-scale complex systems, system-of-systems or product line problem spaces
• Knowledge and experience of MBSE frameworks, tools, languages and their application in the methodical decomposition of a system
• Experience in managing and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at different levels.
• Relevant domain experience in either military electronics, electronic warfare, naval communications or vehicle-mounted systems
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high complexity, dynamic environment at a senior level
• Experience of integration, with an understanding of emergent properties, potential resultant issues, cost and schedule implications, and potential mitigations

We are relentless about inclusion. We understand an inclusive environment is one that welcomes everyone as they are. We see diversity as a strength. We still have some way to go to achieving diverse teams across our whole business. We would like you to be part of our journey to creating that better balance and welcome applications from all individuals from all walks of life as we build a stronger company together.

Primary Location:

Job Description:

At Leonardo we have a need for System Architects at all levels to support increasing numbers of large and complex Systems Integrator (SI) programmes being delivered and bid within Leonardo Integrated Sensors & Protection (ISP) business across Land, Naval & Airborne Comms domains.
Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 7,000 are UK-based.

The Integrated Sensors & Protection (ISP) line of business is based in Basildon and Southampton and has a rich heritage in Electronic Warfare and communications. Boasting over 100 years of history and providing the latest advances in radio frequency technology to our military customers in the UK and further afield.

We build interesting and challenging complex systems, with a diverse product portfolio of complex sensing and protective technologies. Given the complexity it requires a cross cutting approach to systems architectural development.

The role can be based from any of our UK sites and will be a mixture of home based/onsite working according to our new Custom Working initiative.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

• Flexible working: We offer our employees the time and flexibility they need to enjoy a balanced life through flexible hours and part time options
• Custom working: The role may be a mixture of home based and onsite
• Flexible benefits: Our company-funded approach to flexible benefits allows employees to make choices appropriate for them. Each employee has access to a wide choice of lifestyle, health and wellbeing options best suited to their individual lifestyle goals.
• Network groups : To support our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion, we have a range of network groups for colleagues :o Carers (employees caring for family or friends)o Enable (supporting people with disabilities)o Equalise (development of a gender balanced workforce)o Pride (promoting equality for all LGBTQ+ individuals)o Ethnicity Inclusion (developing a more ethnically based workforce)o Wellbeing (promoting & supporting employee wellbeing)
• Training : Free access to Coursera which provides more than 4,000 online courses
• Continuous Learning : You will be supported in your ongoing professional development through training and mentoring
• Investors in People : We are proud recipients of the Investors in People Silver Award
• Employee Assistance Programme : Providing free and confidential mental health support
• Annual leave: We offer 25 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays and 8 flexi days

To find out about all of our Company benefits please visit:

Key Responsibility Areas

As a Systems Architect for the ISP business, you will:

• Contribute to a clear Architectural Vision, supporting Capability roadmaps, for development of products in the short, medium and long term
• Support the continued development of Architecting methodologies in the Systems Engineering Function
• Apply System-of-System and product development approaches to ensure alignment and efficiencies across multiple projects
• Provide internal consultation and Systems Engineering expertise to support projects
• Support design reviews as a reviewing stakeholder
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to elicit system needs and constraints
• Derive functional and behavioural aspects of a system
• Conduct and document trade space analysis to inform key high-level design decisions
• Produce candidate solution architectures and derive requirements at all levels
• Apportion and budget performance across a system or system of systems
• Work with the Bid & Project Manager roles to estimate the cost based on alternative solutions and approaches
• Play an essential role in the broader Systems Engineering team, assisting with process tailoring and the roll out of best practice in MBSE, Systems Architecture and Systems Engineering
• Mentoring and coaching colleagues in core System Architecting skills and practices

You must be eligible for full security clearance. For more information and guidance please visit :

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge Required

We are looking for systems thinkers, who have:

• Broad experience across engineering lifecycles, with an emphasis on operational analysis and systems decomposition
• A record of addressing large-scale complex systems, system-of-systems or product line problem spaces
• Knowledge and experience of MBSE frameworks, tools, languages and their application in the methodical decomposition of a system
• Experience in managing and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at different levels.
• Relevant domain experience in either military electronics, electronic warfare, naval communications or vehicle-mounted systems
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a high complexity, dynamic environment at a senior level
• Experience of integration, with an understanding of emergent properties, potential resultant issues, cost and schedule implications, and potential mitigations

We are relentless about inclusion. We understand an inclusive environment is one that welcomes everyone as they are. We see diversity as a strength. We still have some way to go to achieving diverse teams across our whole business. We would like you to be part of our journey to creating that better balance and welcome applications from all individuals from all walks of life as we build a stronger company together.

Primary Location:

Additional Locations:

Contract Type:

Hybrid Working:

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