Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description:

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.

Your Impact

We have an exciting opportunity within the Manufacturing Engineering function for a Principal Manufacturing Engineer.

You will join the team to develop, improve and support the operations manufacturing processes and equipment enabling world class production of Leonardo products. You will be responsible for developing robust solutions, considering the impact of their work on broader project issues. You will be expected to plan and deliver your own work, across medium term planning horizons and provide complex technical advice to both internal and external customers and will be responsible for developing others.

Leonardo is an international leader in the development of cutting-edge sensor products deployed across a wide range of airborne platforms. Pushing the boundaries of technology, accuracy, and safety in engineering globally.

The role is based in Edinburgh and will be primarily on-site.

What you’ll do as a Principal Manufacturing Engineer:

• Develop manufacturing processes by studying product requirements; researching, designing, modifying, and testing manufacturing methods and equipment; understanding feedback from Leonardo operators, conferring with equipment vendors or external suppliers.
• To prepare for and organise Manufacturing Maturity Reviews, maintain governance through the Lifecycle Management process and create/ contribute/ review and/or lead Manufacturing Plans.
• Review production schedules; review production labour and material costs; estimate future requirements.
• Prepare product and process reports by collecting, analysing, and summarizing information and trends.
• Ability to resolve complex product and/or production issues & constraints (relieving bottlenecks) on shop floor reacting efficiently to escalation from manufacturing teams.
• Improve manufacturing efficiency by capacity analysis, simulation planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout.
• Review manufacturing documentation; including input to process specific risk assessments, COSHH data, technical reports, specification.
• Assure product and process quality by designing methods; validation/ verification of process capabilities; establishing standards; confirming manufacturing processes.
• Contribute to failure investigations utilising known problem-solving techniques (e.g. 8D).
• Assure manufacturing data i.e. routings, production plans, control plans and electronic work instructions.
• Identify continuous improvement activities to develop skills and competencies within Manufacturing Engineering.
• Complete improvement and development projects by training and interacting with the organisations manufacturing engineer community.
• Promote a culture of best practice sharing and knowledge exploitation.
• Provide domain experience in support of customer and user engagement and product road maps.
• Maintain product and company reputation by complying with government regulations.

Security Clearance

This role is open to UK nationals only and 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) shall apply, including meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC). 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.

​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 bench marked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

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 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!

Primary Location:

GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type:

Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Onsite