Test Engineering Manager

The Opportunity at Leonardo

Do you want to work on real-time projects alongside leading scientists and engineers within a globally renowned company? Leonardo is an international leader in electronic and information technologies for defence systems, aerospace, data, infrastructures, land security and protection, and sustainable ‘smart’ solutions.

Leonardo Southampton has a strong heritage in Infrared Detectors since the 1950s. Designed and built in the UK, Leonardo’s Detectors and thermal imaging sensors play a crucial role in providing visibility and situational awareness, no matter what the environmental conditions.

Within IR Detectors, Test Engineering is a critical discipline that provides the capability and delivery to ensure that our products meet customer requirements and demonstrate statutory and regulatory compliance. We are a multi-disciplined team of engineers who are looking for a visionary leader to deliver our mission of sustainable Test Engineering today, in the future, and beyond.

What You’ll Do As A Test Engineering Manager

As Test Engineering Manager, you will have two key areas of responsibility:

Capability

• Generate and deliver a strategic roadmap of improvement to ensure the capability of Test Engineering in IR Detectors meets the needs of the business throughout the entire Product Life Cycle.
• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including Function Leads, Technology Leaders, and Policy makers to harmonise strategic direction to maximum effect.
• Define and characterise the vitality of Test Engineering, identifying and addressing critical gaps in capability and delivery.
• Review and ensure alignment of Test Strategy plans, identifying opportunities for efficiency savings.
• Input into the five-year Integrated Business Plan balanced and considered plans for investment and return.

Delivery

• Ensure the quality of bid submissions from Test Engineering through review, ensuring resourcing strategies are effective and efficient.
• Manage the strategic supply and demand of resources.
• Ensure the efficient and compliant application of LCM and Governance across Test Engineering delivery.
• Provide and maintain suitable tools and infrastructure to enable the successful delivery of Test Engineering activities, working collaboratively with the UK Test, Tools, and Governance Lead.
• Ensure the through-life support of Test Capability through effective management of obsolescence, including policy changes, e.g., security.
• Ensure that project milestones are delivered to time, cost, and quality.

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge Required

We are looking for systems thinkers, who have:

Essential

• Ability to achieve SC level security clearance as a minimum.
• Broad experience across engineering lifecycles, with an emphasis on engineering and associated planning activities for successful delivery outcomes.
• Ability to generate strategic visions and deliver against strategic plans.
• Influencing and negotiation skills with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven ability to build trust and respect at all levels.
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills in a complex, dynamic environment.
• Experience of delivering engineering solutions for complex and technically challenging products, preferably in the defence electronics sector.
• Financial awareness and experience of financial planning.
• Awareness of statutory and regulatory compliance requirements within the defence avionics industry.

Desirable

• Knowledge of a broad range of engineering disciplines.
• Awareness of Manufacturing and Operations.
• Knowledge/experience of defence technologies in the military, space, and astronomy domain.
• Experience of the application of continuous improvement principles within the Lean Sigma domain.

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.

Key skills/competency

• Test Strategy Development
• Engineering Lifecycle Management
• Resource Management
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Financial Planning
• Compliance & Governance
• Leadership & Decision-making
• Infrared Detector Technology
• Defence Electronics
• Continuous Improvement (Lean Sigma)