Solution Architect - Land CEMA

Solutions Architect - Land CEMA

Are you a Solutions Architect passionate about contributing to the UK's Defence Industry and driving impactful change? Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for an individual with a background in Defence Communications or Cyber & Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) to enhance the leadership and strategic direction of our Land CEMA operations, supporting both UK and international customers.

This is a hybrid role, based at either our Southampton, Basildon, or Bristol locations.

Your Impact

As a Solutions Architect, you will play a highly influential role, intimately involved in delivering strategic business objectives. You will be pivotal in the delivery of our Land CEMA portfolio, shaping both enterprise and system-level solution designs. This role is crucial for ensuring resilient, modular, and scalable solutions for future customer needs and operating environments. The Solutions Architect’s role is as broad as it is diverse and challenging, representing a pivotal position within Leonardo’s Land CEMA Integrated Capture Team.

Activities will range from SI Enterprise Architecture design, identification of technical solutions & architectures, technical leadership in bids and external studies, to participation in product validation (PV) and support for Capability Management for product portfolios. You will be key to ensuring resilient, modular, and scalable solutions that meet future customer needs and operating environments.

Operating at the intersection of strategy, engineering, and business development, you will collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to define clear solution definitions, strengthening our reputation as a trusted partner in defence technology. The role also requires close engagement with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders to build enduring relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain high awareness of all relevant developments around Land CEMA Architecture (Standards for Integrated C5ISR/EW Systems) (LCA (STICS)).
• Architect and deliver CEMA capabilities across enterprise and system levels, ensuring interoperability, resilience, and customer value.
• Shape technical and commercial strategy by evaluating alternative approaches, balancing bespoke development with Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) integration.
• Lead technical input to bids and campaigns, producing architectures, requirements, and cost estimates that drive competitive advantage.
• Engage directly with customers and partners, translating operational needs into clear technical solutions and building trusted long-term relationships.
• Generate thought leadership through white papers, studies, and stakeholder engagement, influencing future defence programmes and market direction.
• Support recruitment and mentoring, building a pipeline of engineering talent and fostering innovation.
• Represent the organisation internationally, strengthening reputation and expanding market presence through B2B collaboration and strategic partnerships.

What You'll Bring:

• A proven background within CEMA or Defence Communication applications and experience at a Solutions Architect or similar level.
• A degree (or equivalent experience) in a STEM subject with strong numerical, analytical, and design skills, with the ability to apply these to real-world problems.
• Significant experience developing communications, Electronic Warfare (EW) / CEMA and/or other vehicle mission systems-based architectures, products, and systems throughout their full lifecycle.
• Experience dealing with customers at a senior commercial and technical level.
• Experience of estimating costs and technical risk for each solution approach.
• Experience of the full lifecycle for product and system development – from concept through to disposal.
• Familiarity with open systems architectures such as Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), LCA, GVA, OpenVPX, Modular Open Radio Frequency (RF) Architecture (MORA), OpenCPI, VITA.
• Experience of formal user requirements capture, traceability, and compliance management methodologies and tools.
• Experience of military electronic systems, including an understanding of interoperability, operational use cases, and customer needs.
• Knowledge of military communications architectures and principles.
• Experience of relevant tools such as Cameo, Rhapsody, System Architect, and The Mathworks.
• Experience of military command and control networks in the Land and Maritime context.
• Experience of the methodology and production of engineering documentation necessary to support a competitive tender.
• Experience working in a consultancy-type role.
• Proven ability to understand customer business/technical needs and translate them into technical solutions using understandable language.
• Excellent problem-solving and innovation skills.
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to drive an organisation towards short-term goals and long-term strategy.
• Strong motivating and communication skills, with the ability to empower and influence others.
• A proactive, self-starter attitude, comfortable working with ambiguous or ill-defined requirements.
• Ability to work in a multi-organisational team.
• Ability to present at all levels, both internally and externally.

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. A positive attitude and a willingness to learn are paramount.

Security Clearance:

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Additional Personnel Security Controls, referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV), may apply, potentially including eligibility for Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information, please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting.

Salary:

£67,000 to £97,500

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 within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls.

Why Join Us:

At Leonardo, our people are central to everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance.

• Time to Recharge: 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 available.

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 key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace where diversity sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes. Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location:

GB - Basildon

Additional Locations:

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane, GB - Southampton

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid