Senior Software Engineer

Job Description:

Your impact 

Are you ready to take the next step in your software career and lead the delivery of secure, high-quality solutions? At Leonardo, our Senior Software Engineers combine hands-on coding with leadership, ensuring that software components are well designed, integrated, and tested to meet customer needs. 

Your work at Leonardo UK will see you take the lead in solving customer problems in an agile, innovative and team-centric manner. The role may involve a blended hybrid working model, with a mixture of working from home and working on site at one of our Leonardo offices to ensure close collaboration with the wider team and with our customers. 

What you will do as a Senior Software Engineer 

• Take ownership of software work packages, including planning, delivery, and reporting. 

• Design, implement, and test software modules and components. 

• Review code, designs, and test evidence to ensure compliance with standards and governance. 

• Troubleshoot complex issues and provide technical guidance to engineers. 

• Mentor and support junior developers, sharing knowledge and best practice. 

• Contribute to design reviews, risk assessments, and stakeholder reporting. 

• Integrate software into wider systems, collaborating with systems, test, and DevOps teams. 

• Suggest and drive improvements in development processes, tools, and practices. 

What you’ll bring 

• Strong technical ability with proven experience delivering software components and modules. 

• Ability to balance hands-on coding with leadership and mentoring responsibilities. 

• Confidence to represent software engineering within project teams and customer discussions. 

Core areas (must have): 

• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g. Python, Java, C++, C#) 

• Experience designing, implementing, and testing software components 

• Knowledge of secure coding practices and cyber security considerations 

• Familiarity with version control and configuration management (Git, GitLab, Azure DevOps) 

• Experience integrating software within larger systems and platforms 

• Understanding of Agile/SAFe delivery methods 

Desirable: 

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and build tools (GitLab CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps) 

• Familiarity with containerisation and cloud platforms (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure) 

• Exposure to automated testing frameworks (Selenium, JUnit, PyTest, NUnit) 

• ISTQB Foundation/Advanced or equivalent testing knowledge 

• Experience mentoring early-career engineers 

• Awareness of model-based engineering or architecture tools (UML, SysML) 

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 

Location 

This role can be based at one of our UK sites, Bristol, with hybrid/custom working options where appropriate. 

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 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 published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.
 
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!

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Primary Location:

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid