Full-Time
Software Engineer
SMP Simulation
Updated on 8/23/2026
Leonardo
10,001+ employees
Aerospace, defense tech design and manufacturing
No salary listed
Darmstadt, Germany
In Person
Canada Citizenship Required
 Aerospace Engineering (1) |
|---|
Get referred to Leonardo
See people who can refer or advise you
- Extensive experience in spacecraft model development using the ECSS SMP or SMP2 standard.
- Advanced proficiency in C++ programming and object-oriented design using UML or UMF.
- Ability to understand and summarize complex spacecraft technical documentation.
- Strong background in requirements management and tracing throughout the software life cycle.
- Experience mentoring junior staff and leading small technical teams.
- Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Citizenship of an EU or ESA member state is mandatory.
- Coordinate the design, development, and maintenance of efficient C++ code for satellite subsystem models.
- Translate technical spacecraft documentation into functional software models for Linux-based environments.
- Lead the software life cycle from initial design through validation and maintenance for customers such as ESA and EUMETSAT.
- Oversee the work of junior engineers and manage task distribution across the development team.
- Participate in project milestones, including technical reviews and tracking Review Items for Discrepancies.
- Ensure simulators meet evolving performance demands for high-fidelity mission training and validation.
- Liaise with ESA technical leads to align software delivery with mission operational concepts.
- Familiarity with the ESA/ESOC SIMULUS suite and the SIMSAT runtime kernel.
- Experience with modern continuous integration and continuous delivery tools such as Maven, GitLab, Nexus, and SonarQube.
- Knowledge of Space Engineering Standards ECSS-E-ST-40 and the Packet Utilisation Standard ECSS-E-70.
- Background in the Global Navigation Satellite System or navigation field, or satellite Assembly, Integration, and Verification.
- Understanding of spacecraft databases such as SCOS MIB or EGS-CC CDM.
- Logical and pragmatic problem-solving skills.
Leonardo operates in aerospace, defense, and security, designing and manufacturing advanced technologies for militaries, intelligence agencies, and defense contractors. Its products combine hardware, software, and services and can include end-to-end systems built by subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS; training and ongoing support are core parts of the offering. The company differentiates itself through a broad, diversified portfolio and long-standing relationships with US and allied governments, enabling end-to-end development and sustainment. Its goal is to provide reliable, state-of-the-art capabilities with strong customer support and training for defense, intelligence, and civil infrastructure customers.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Rome, Italy
Founded
2022
Get referred to Leonardo
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- H1 2026 orders rose 45% to €16.3 billion, lifting FY2026 guidance on 30 July.
- Leonardo won €64 million from the 2025 European Defence Fund on 30 July.
- Becrypt and Raft broaden Leonardo DRS into cyber and AI mission software.
What critics are saying
- Italy's July 2026 CEO swap damaged shares 8.5% and politicized governance.
- OHB threatens lawsuits against Project Bromo, delaying space synergies until 2027.
- EU rejection of Project Bromo kills Leonardo's space scale strategy against SpaceX and China.
What makes Leonardo unique
- Leonardo dominates European land defense after completing IDV acquisition on 18 March 2026.
- Project Bromo positions Leonardo as a core European space champion with Airbus and Thales.
- Becrypt strengthens Leonardo's trusted cyber stack across UK and Five Eyes government networks.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Remote Work Options
Flexible Work Hours
Health Insurance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 12%1 year growth
↑ 12%2 year growth
↑ 13%Leonardo SpA reported a 40% surge in orders to approximately €16 billion in H1 2026, driven by strong demand across divisions including major helicopter and jet contracts. Revenue rose 10% year-over-year, excluding currency headwinds. EBITDA reached €730 million, up 30%, whilst return on sales improved to 7.6% from 6.5%. Adjusted net income increased 74% and free operating cash flow improved 45% despite remaining negative in the first half. The company raised its full-year guidance, increasing expected new orders to €28.2 billion, EBITDA to €2.21 billion, and free operating cash flow to €1.37 billion. Net debt stood at €3.2 billion, including the IVECO Defence Vehicles acquisition. The acquisition contributed €6 billion to the backlog and €400 million in Q2 revenues. Helicopter deliveries increased from 72 to 81 units, whilst aerostructures revenue jumped 44% on higher B7A7 production rates.
Airbus, Leonardo and Thales are preparing to seek European Union approval for a three-way space merger, arguing Europe needs a unified champion to compete with SpaceX and China. The deal, known as Project Bromo, would combine major European space assets across satellite manufacturing and systems. The proposed company would employ roughly 25,000 people, generate approximately €6.5 billion in annual revenue and maintain an order backlog exceeding three years. Ownership would be split with Airbus holding 35% whilst Leonardo and Thales would each own 32.5%. The merger faces opposition from Germany's OHB and Spain's Indra Space, which warn it could reduce competition in Europe's satellite market. The deal represents an early test of new European Commission merger guidelines that may prioritise scale when companies face global competitors.
Leonardo has secured €64 million in funding from the 2025 European Defence Fund, with 15 of its 18 submitted proposals selected. The allocation includes €51 million for development and €13 million for research across 11 capability development initiatives and four research projects. The EDF 2025 cycle saw 57 projects selected from 410 submissions, involving 634 entities across 26 European countries plus Norway and Ukraine, with a total budget of approximately €1 billion. Small and medium-sized enterprises represented 38% of participants. Key Leonardo projects include ASIMOV, focused on in-orbit operations for European defence, and ANEMOS, a research initiative for radio communication solutions. Including contributions from group subsidiaries, Leonardo's total funding reaches approximately €84 million.
Leonardo, a surveillance company, plans to add SignalTrace sensors to automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) that would collect unique identifiers from mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, and other electronics in passing vehicles. The technology would link these device identifiers to licence plates, enabling law enforcement to track specific individuals rather than just vehicles. SignalTrace can detect RFID tags in key cards, Bluetooth devices like headphones and fitness trackers, vehicle components such as tyre pressure sensors, and Wi-Fi sources including laptops. The system stores this data for future searches and uses algorithms to correlate devices that consistently travel together with specific licence plates. Leonardo sells ALPR cameras to law enforcement and government agencies. The company did not respond to requests for comment about the product.
German satellite maker OHB will consider legal action if EU regulators approve a planned merger of Airbus, Thales and Leonardo's satellite businesses, CEO Marco Fuchs told Reuters on Thursday. The three aerospace groups announced "Project Bromo" in October, aiming to create a stronger European competitor to SpaceX and Chinese rivals. However, OHB fears the deal could weaken competition and disrupt its supply chain in Europe. Fuchs dismissed comparisons with Chinese competitors, noting Europe does not purchase satellites from China. The core regulatory question is whether the new entity would primarily compete globally or reinforce market dominance in Europe. OHB's market value has risen roughly fivefold to €5 billion over the past year. The company reported 18% quarterly revenue growth with order backlog up 45%.