Chief Engineer & Deputy Design Authority

Programme Name: Maritime

Location: Farnborough, with flexibility to work from home and travel to customer sites dependent on business demands

Join our UK Team who are committed to a Mission!

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Chief Engineer and Deputy Maritime Design Authority to lead the delivery of new naval capabilities within a fast‑paced, collaborative environment, supporting national security objectives.

Reporting to the Maritime Design Authority, you will oversee all phases of the platform lifecycle, including detailed design and the outfit of Sea Dagger with our strategic shipyard partner. You will also support the Maritime Design Authority in developing additional opportunities across the Leidos National Security & Defence (NS&D) Maritime portfolio.

You will work with multidiscipline engineers and other functions within the Leidos team, including stakeholders, customers, end users and supply chain.  Good communication skills and the ability to organise activities in a complex environment are essential. 

What will I be doing?

• Working with the Maritime Design Authority, own all engineering decisions for the platform, ensuring technical coherence across the engineering disciplines;
• Provide technical input to project governance boards, design reviews (including PDR, CDR, PRR and TRR reviews), and MoD assurance activities;
• Coordinate engineering planning, scheduling, and risk management to support programme milestones.
• Oversee integration of mechanical, electrical, structural, combat systems and platform systems into an assured, compliant design. Support outfit, systems integration, harbour and sea trials, acceptance activities, operational trial and transition into service.  Ensure system designs are appropriately documented, overseeing troubleshooting steps to maintain clear and accurate records;
• Ensure engineering activities align with relevant Mil-Stan, Def-Stan, IACS Codes, MCA and other relevant UK maritime regulations;
• Oversee engineering change process including engineering configuration control and technical baselines throughout the project lifecycle;
• Serve as a technical interface with the MoD, suppliers, and internal leadership;
• Foster a high performance culture focused on accountability, support and empowerment. Champion Leidos values of integrity, innovation, inclusion, agility, collaboration and commitment;
• Collaborate closely with production, procurement, quality and project management teams;
• Ensure adherence to the Leidos safety, environmental and quality standards during technical operations of the programme;
• Establish and maintain the platform’s Safety Case, ensuring compliance with UK Defence Safety Authority (DSA) regulations.  Oversee hazard identification, risk assessments, and safety‑critical decision‑making.

What does Leidos need from me?

You will have proven experience in engineering delivery and marine systems design, with naval architecture experience in small craft desirable. You will demonstrate strong capability in systems integration during outfit and sea trials to optimise platform availability and performance.

The successful candidate will bring energy and will lead by example in building an inclusive, collaborative, enterprise across all delivery partners and stakeholders including our strategic boat outfit supplier.

Skills Required:

• Lead a multidisciplinary engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, safety, and continuous improvement;
• Ensure the Maritime engineering teams follow best practice in systems engineering, design assurance, and safety management;
• Communicate complex engineering issues clearly to non‑technical stakeholders;
• Mentor junior engineers and support capability development across the organisation;
• Personal attributes required:
  • Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels;
  • Excellent problem‑solving skills and sound engineering judgement;
  • Clear communicator with the ability to simplify complex technical issues;
  • Transparent, approachable and ambassador for collaborative teamwork across the whole enterprise including suppliers, stakeholders and customer(s);
  • Resilient, organised, and comfortable operating in a high‑stakes defence environment.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent;
• Degree in Naval Architecture, Engineering or related discipline;
• Extensive experience leading engineering teams on complex maritime or defence programmes;
• Proven track record delivering platform‑level designs through concept, detailed design, build, and trials;

• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and major subcontractors;
• Experience of MoD acquisition programmes, Def‑Stans and maritime safety regulations.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Experience with military small craft, patrol vessels, or specialist naval platforms;
• Knowledge of combat systems integration;
• Experience working with UK shipyards or defence primes.

Location:

• UK (home location flexible, TBC: occasional travel to the US or Europe - no more than 1 or 2 visits per year);
• Approximately 50% hybrid working with regular travel to Leidos sites (for example Farnborough, London or Whiteley) and supplier facilities (including SW Wales).

Clearance:

• Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC or higher; DV desirable)

What we do for you:
At Leidos we are PASSIONATE about customer success, UNITED as a team and INSPIRED to make a difference. We offer meaningful and engaging careers, a collaborative culture, and support for your career goals, all while nurturing a healthy work-life balance.

We provide an employment package that attracts, develops and retains only the best in talent. Our reward scheme includes:
•    Contributory Pension Scheme
•    Private Medical Insurance
•    33 days Annual Leave (including public and privilege holidays)
•    Access to Flexible benefits (including life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, annual buy and sell holidays and a cycle to work scheme)

•    Flexi-Time Working

Commitment to Diversity:

We welcome applications from every part of the community and are committed to a truly diverse and inclusive culture.  We foster a sense of belonging, welcoming all perspectives and contributions, and providing equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone.  If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages please let us know, and we will respond in a way that best fits your needs.

Who We Are:

Leidos UK & EUROPE – we work to make the world safer, healthier, and more efficient through technology, engineering and science.

Leidos is a growing company delivering innovative technology and solutions focused on safeguarding critical capabilities and transformation in frontline services, our work in the United Kingdom includes addressing some of the most complex problems in defence, healthcare, government, safety and security, and transportation.

What Makes Us Different:

Purpose: you can use your passion and abilities at Leidos to keep the people you care about safe. We are at the forefront of machine learning, AI, cyber security and solutions. Using your skills in the technology frontline by helping to build a safer world.  You can inspire change.

Collaboration: having flexibility to do your job is one of our core benefits, enabling you to become part of our extraordinary team.  We have been empowering our people to work flexibly for years.  Whether you work from home, the office or on customer sites, we will give you the digital tools and the flexibility to work smarter and align your needs and ours.          

People: Leidos empowers people from every background to be themselves and gives you the tools to learn new skills by enabling growth whilst developing. We believe that extraordinary people need opportunities to grow, to be inspired and to inspire others. At Leidos, we invest in technical academies, career rotations and a career development plans that enhance your future.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

£75,800.00-£99,800.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.