Lead Systems Engineer – Guidance, Navigation, Control & Fusion
LocationGB - Edinburgh; GB - Newcastle
Work modehybrid
Typefull-time
SeniorityLead
Company size10,000+ people
First seenOct 10, 2026 · 1d ago
Verified live1d ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
Must have11
A degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, closely related discipline, or equivalent knowledge and experience
Understanding of navigation principles and estimation theory
Knowledge of inertial navigation systems
Knowledge of GNSS/GPS technologies
Knowledge of coordinate transformations and reference frames
Knowledge of error propagation and uncertainty analysis
Knowledge of sensor fusion techniques
Experience with Kalman Filters or related estimation approaches
Experience using MATLAB and Simulink for modelling and simulation
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively
Nice to have14
Postgraduate qualification in Control, Navigation, Aerospace or Applied Mathematics
Experience developing navigation systems for defence, aerospace or autonomous platforms
Knowledge of resilient PNT technologies
Experience with advanced filters such as Extended Kalman Filters (EKF), Unscented Kalman Filters (UKF), or Particle Filters
Experience with multi-sensor fusion architectures, multi-modal and multiple-hypothesis filtering
Experience with Visual-Inertial Navigation
Experience with SLAM techniques
Experience with GNSS/GPS simulation and integration
Other software development experience (e.g. C++, Python or embedded environments)
Familiarity with Systems Engineering principles, approaches and the engineering lifecycle
Knowledge of Jira, Git and configuration management tools
Experience in collaborating with external customers and international partners
Experience contributing to programme-level technical decision making, including system architecture trade-offs, technical risk management, and engineering governance activities
Experience providing technical leadership to engineering teams or work packages
Eligibility2
This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government's Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
May be required to meet eligibility for Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV)
Skills
MATLAB
Simulink
C++
Python
Jira
Git
Benefits
Health insurance
Pension
Bonus
Flexible working
Hybrid working
Training development
Employee assistance program
Private healthcare
Dental insurance
Job Description:
Your Impact
Leonardo is a global high-technology company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. We are seeking a talented and motivated Guidance, Navigation, Control, & Fusion (GNCF) Engineer to join our growing engineering team developing next-generation defence and aerospace systems.
This role is primarily focused on the design, development, integration and verification of navigation systems and algorithms for advanced airborne, maritime and land-based platforms. The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering robust Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions capable of operating in challenging and contested environments.
The role offers the opportunity to contribute across the full engineering lifecycle, from concept development and modelling through to system integration, verification and customer support.
What You’ll Do
As a Guidance, Navigation, Control, & Fusion Engineer, you will:
•
Collaborate with hardware development teams to develop and implement advanced navigation technologies for military and civilian applications.
•
Design and analyse integrated navigation solutions incorporating GNSS/GPS, Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), vision-aided navigation systems, and other traditional and advanced sensor technologies.
•
Work on advanced and complex filtering, and AI-enabled algorithms.
•
Work towards intelligent and autonomous vehicle capabilities
•
Be a part of an exciting and ambitious multi-disciplinary and multi-national project.
Key Responsibilities
•
Navigation algorithm design and development.
•
Sensor modelling and performance characterisation.
•
Navigation system architecture definition.
•
State estimation and sensor fusion development.
•
Navigation simulation and analysis.
•
Verification and validation planning and execution.
•
Technical risk identification and mitigation.
•
Development and exploitation of artificial intelligence
•
Contribution to innovation, research and technology development initiatives.
•
Support of system-level trade studies and performance assessments.
What You’ll bring
Essential
•
A degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, closely related discipline, or equivalent knowledge and experience.
•
Understanding of navigation principles and estimation theory.
•
Knowledge of:
•
Inertial navigation systems
•
GNSS/GPS technologies
•
Coordinate transformations and reference frames
•
Error propagation and uncertainty analysis
•
Sensor fusion techniques
•
Experience with Kalman Filters or related estimation approaches.
•
Experience using MATLAB and Simulink for modelling and simulation.
•
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively.
Desirable
•
Postgraduate qualification in Control, Navigation, Aerospace or Applied Mathematics.
•
Experience developing navigation systems for defence, aerospace or autonomous platforms.
•
Knowledge of resilient PNT technologies.
•
Experience with:
•
Advanced filters such as Extended Kalman Filters (EKF), Unscented Kalman Filters (UKF), or Particle Filters
•
Multi-sensor fusion architectures, multi-modal and multiple-hypothesis filtering
•
Visual-Inertial Navigation
•
SLAM techniques
•
GNSS/GPS simulation and integration
•
Other software development experience (e.g. C++, Python or embedded environments).
•
Familiarity with Systems Engineering principles, approaches and the engineering lifecycle.
•
Knowledge of, Jira, Git and configuration management tools.
•
Experience in collaborating with external customers and international partners
•
Experience contributing to programme-level technical decision making, including system architecture trade-offs, technical risk management, and engineering governance activities.
•
Experience providing technical leadership to engineering teams or work packages.
Security Clearance
Hiring process
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
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.
About the company
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.