Lead Safety Engineer

Job Description:

Salary: £60,000 - £80,000

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your Impact

Within our Radar and Advanced Targeting Systems (RATS) line of business, we deliver world-class innovative multi-role surveillance radars and countermeasure systems that help protect people and nations.

We are seeking a Lead Safety Engineer to join our Design Integrity function, to support the Test Engineering department. In this key role, you will ensure that robust safety governance is applied across all activities, meeting both internal standards and external legal and regulatory requirements. As a Lead Safety Engineer, you will lead on test safety and product test equipment safety, taking ownership from early concept through to certification. By embedding safety, environmental, and regulatory considerations throughout the entire lifecycle, you will help ensure our solutions are safe, compliant, and delivered to the highest standards.

Please note the role is working on a hybrid basis (a minimum of three days per week onsite) from either our Edinburgh or Newcastle sites. Regular travel between both sites will be required.

What you will do as Lead Safety Engineer:

• Collaborate with Systems Engineering and Sector Engineering Safety Managers to ensure project safety requirements are achieved.
• Define Product Safety and Environmental requirements (product, contractual, legal and regulatory).
• Participate in the planning and execution of test programmes to address design safety considerations.
• Ensure test equipment safety certification (jigs, fixtures, electrical, electronic, optical and RF test equipment and facilities) and readiness for test, supporting Declaration of Design and Performance compliance.

What you’ll bring

• Ideally Chartered Engineer status, and a 2:1 or higher in a relevant engineering or science-based honours degree.
• Experience applying safety tools and techniques within Electronics or Avionics disciplines, including Hazard Log Management, Hazard Identification, Functional Failure Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, Risk Assessment and ALARP justifications.
• Knowledge of electronic testing standards and compliance requirements.
• Experience in Integration, Test, Evaluation and Acceptance processes for complex systems.
• Experience of verification and testing aligned to ARP4754 or equivalent standards.
• Experience supporting certification to RTCA/DO-178C Level C and/or RTCA/DO-254 Level C, or equivalent in adjacent regulated sectors.
• Experience achieving Product Safety certification in regulated environments.

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.

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.
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!

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Hybrid Working: