Project Engineering Lead - Supplier Engagement
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£51,900
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2127 (85% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £51,900, and Leonardo UK Ltd is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
In 2025, Leonardo UK Ltd assigned 6 or more Certificates of Sponsorship for SOC 2127 jobs, according to the Home Office.
This could also be SOC 1121 (Production managers and directors in manufacturing, Manages supplier improvement and production readiness, but no direct people management). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2127 Engineering project managers and project engineers Most likely code | £36,300 | £41,500 | £46,700 | £51,900 |
1121 Production managers and directors in manufacturing Also possible | £38,500 | £44,000 | £49,500 | £55,000 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Job Description:
Your impact
Are you looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity to lead a skilled team in a time of significant growth in an AESA Radar sector, based in either our Edinburgh or Newcastle offices?
Leonardo is a global leader in defence electronics and delivers mission-critical systems for situational awareness, electronic warfare and surveillance across land, sea and air. The Radar and Advanced Targeting line of business, based across Edinburgh and Newcastle, is uniquely positioned as one of the world's top manufacturers of radars, lasers and infrared countermeasure systems with a rich heritage in engineering, with 100 years of pioneering development. The Secretary of State for Defence announced the UK European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 production contract during a visit to Leonardo Edinburgh in January 2026. We have an exciting opportunity to join the ECRS Mk2 programme at an early stage of its lifecycle. Based in either Edinburgh or Newcastle, you will have the opportunity to influence the successful delivery of equipment to the end user.
We are seeking a Project Engineering Lead (PEL) to lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team responsible for maturing cutting-edge PCB/PCA designs in the supply chain supporting the ECRS Mk2 Programme. Reporting directly to the Project Engineering Manager, this role will provide technical and operational leadership across Leonardo and strategic suppliers to improve manufacturing capability, yield, quality, throughput and production readiness.
As the PEL for the Supply Chain Improvement Team you will :
Lead the ECRS Mk2 Supply Chain Improvement Team, providing direction, prioritisation and governance across supplier improvement, manufacturing maturity and industrialisation activities.
Establish and deliver a strategy for improving supplier quality, yield, throughput, lead time and production readiness.
Act as the primary engineering interface between Leonardo, strategic suppliers and internal stakeholders advising of improvements to design to aid manufacturing quality, schedule & cost
Drive root cause investigations and robust corrective and preventive actions.
Lead regular supplier performance reviews focused on yield, quality, capacity and schedule adherence.
Conduct supplier assessments, technical reviews and manufacturing readiness evaluations.
Provide engineering leadership for manufacturing non-conformities and quality issues.
Work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality and Programme teams.
Drive Design for Manufacture (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA) and industrialisation best practice.
Provide regular updates to the Project Engineering Manager, Chief Engineer, Programme Leadership Team and Head of Programmes.
What you’ll bring
Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Electronics, Physics or equivalent technical discipline.
Experience of leading engineering teams or complex manufacturing, industrialization, NPI or supply chain work packages.
Experience working with suppliers to improve quality, delivery and manufacturing capability.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
Ability to identify root causes and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
Experience leading supplier reviews, audits or performance improvement activities.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
Self-motivated with the ability to provide structure, focus and momentum within a challenging delivery environment.
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!
Primary Location:
GB - EdinburghAdditional Locations:
GB - NewcastleContract Type:
PermanentHybrid Working:
HybridThis description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Leonardo UK Ltd, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Engineering project managers and project engineers (SOC 2127) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~68k in sample- Middle half £42,848–67,132
- Median £51,324
- Going rate £51,900
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £36,300–46,700
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at Leonardo UK LtdAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Leonardo UK Ltd holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. In 2025, Leonardo UK Ltd assigned 6 or more Certificates of Sponsorship for SOC 2127 jobs, according to the Home Office. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2127 going rate of £51,900. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.