Principal Software Engineer – Test Environments (GCAP)
// Role Summary
Join a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop critical test environments for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth-generation combat aircraft. This role is vital for national and international defence, focusing on advanced sensing, communications, and data fusion technologies.
// Key Responsibilities
- Develop software and test solutions for physical and digital test capabilities.
- Deliver test environments from subsystem integration to hardware-in-the-loop and simulation.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to define requirements and support programme objectives.
- Contribute to the GCAP ISANKE and ICS Test Environments roadmap.
- Work with Engineering, Procurement, IT, and Manufacturing teams for trials.
- Occasional travel within the UK and internationally, particularly to Italy and Japan.
// Role Specification
Principal Software Engineer – Test Environments (GCAP)
Can you develop Test Environments for a complex aerospace programme, from strategy through to implementation? This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to play a key role in a defence programme of national and international importance.
Working within the Future Combat Air Line of Business, you will help deliver robust test capabilities for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This includes developing test rigs, integrated test solutions, simulation environments, bespoke software, and test frameworks.
GCAP will deliver Tempest, the sixth-generation combat aircraft replacing the Royal Air Force's Typhoon fleet from 2035. Leonardo UK is leading the development of advanced Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects (ISANKE) and Integrated Communications System (ICS) technologies, encompassing sensing, communications, data fusion, machine learning, and defensive aids systems.
Collaborating closely with the Ministry of Defence and international industry partners, you will be instrumental in the development, integration, verification, and validation of these advanced capabilities. This role can be based at any Leonardo Electronics UK site and will involve occasional travel within the UK and internationally, particularly to Italy and Japan.
What You’ll Do
- Develop software and test solutions that support physical and digital test capabilities.
- Deliver test environments across multiple levels, from subsystem integration through to hardware-in-the-loop and simulation environments.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to define Test Environment requirements and support programme objectives.
- Contribute to the GCAP ISANKE and ICS Test Environments roadmap.
- Support the delivery of innovative test and compliance solutions across the programme.
- Work with Engineering, Procurement, IT, and Manufacturing teams to enable both synthetic and airborne trials.
- Deliver solutions to agreed cost, schedule, and quality targets, while supporting proof-of-concept and demonstration activities.
What You'll Bring
You will have a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, together with experience delivering software solutions within a complex engineering environment. We are looking for candidates with experience in:
- Software development across the full engineering lifecycle using Agile methodologies.
- Developing test environments, test frameworks, or test automation solutions.
- Simulation, modelling, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), or systems integration activities.
- Working with systems engineers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions.
- Requirements capture, verification, validation, and acceptance activities.
- Digital engineering approaches and hybrid physical/synthetic test environments.
- Software architectures, interfaces, and data integration within complex systems.
- Engineering governance, quality standards, and regulated environments.
This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every requirement. The most important attributes are a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a passion for solving complex engineering challenges.
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).
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.
- 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.
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. If you have any accessibility requirements during the recruitment process, please let us know.
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