Principal Software Engineer (AI/ML)
// Role Summary
Join Leonardo UK as a Senior or Principal Software Engineer and develop cutting-edge software for defence and aerospace projects, leveraging your AI/ML expertise on innovative solutions.
// Key Responsibilities
- Develop software for advanced defence and aerospace projects, including stealth fighter jets and directed energy systems.
- Utilize AI/ML capabilities to create deployable software solutions for challenging civilian and military applications.
- Work with leading-edge technologies including PyTorch, TensorFlow, LLMs, RAG, and agentic workflows.
- Contribute to the full software lifecycle within a regulated environment using Agile methodologies.
- Benefit from a comprehensive package including flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
// Role Specification
About the Role
Leonardo UK is seeking experienced Software Engineers with a passion for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to join our Electronics UK business. You will play a crucial role in developing software for some of the UK's most advanced defence and aerospace projects, contributing to both civilian and military initiatives. This is an opportunity to work on exciting projects, from sixth-generation stealth fighter jets to revolutionary Laser Directed Energy products, and support our systems engineers in leveraging AI/ML for innovative solutions.
Your Impact
In this role, you will develop deployable software solutions that harness the power of AI/ML capabilities. You will support our systems engineers on research projects, contributing to the delivery of leading-edge solutions for complex challenges. Leonardo has a significant interest in exploiting AI/ML technologies, and your expertise will be key in this domain.
What You’ll Bring
We are looking for candidates with a strong background in AI/ML and a passion for its application in software development. You should possess a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline, coupled with practical experience in delivering high-integrity software products within a regulated environment.
Key Technical Skills:
- Industry experience working on Agile projects across the full software life cycle.
- Proficiency in machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow, and tools for model integration.
- A strong foundation in AI/ML concepts, including transformer architectures, tokenisation, embeddings, and fine-tuning large language models (LLMs).
- Experience building scalable pipelines, including APIs, vector databases, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and orchestration frameworks.
- Experience curating datasets, managing embeddings, and ensuring security, privacy, and responsible AI practices.
- Experience in prompt engineering, with the ability to design, test, and improve prompts, measuring LLM output accuracy, bias, and robustness.
- Awareness of agentic workflows involving AI agents that can plan, reason, and take autonomous actions.
- Awareness of governance, security, and compliance considerations for data management and AI deployment.
- Awareness of mathematical libraries used for signal, image, and data processing.
- Awareness of high-performance computing and parallel processing challenges.
We encourage applications even if you don't meet every requirement; a willingness to learn and develop is highly valued.
Security Clearance
This role requires pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Additional Personnel Security Controls, potentially including eligibility for Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV), may also apply. For further details, please visit the provided security and vetting information.
Why Join Us?
Leonardo offers a supportive environment with a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance.
Benefits Include:
- Time to Recharge: Generous leave entitlement with up to 12 additional flexi-days per year.
- Secure your Future: Award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led inclusion and diversity networks.
- Rewarding Performance: Eligibility for a bonus scheme for employees at management level and below.
- Never Stop Learning: Free access to over 4,000 online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Financial reward through our referral programme.
- Tailored Perks: Annual allowance of up to £500 for flexible benefits, including private healthcare, dental, tech discounts, and gym memberships.
- Flexible working: Flexible hours and hybrid working options are available.
Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security, employing over 53,000 people worldwide. We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace where diversity drives innovation and better outcomes. If you have accessibility requirements for the recruitment process, please inform us.
Be part of something bigger - apply now!