Senior Data Engineer

Job Description:

Your impact 

At Leonardo, our Data Engineers play a hands-on role in designing and building secure, scalable data solutions that support defence, government, and commercial operations.  Taking ownership of data engineering solutions and mentoring junior team members as you contribute to secure, scalable architectures. you’ll gain exposure to cloud platforms, big data technologies and the full data lifecycle - developing the skills to turn raw data into actionable insight across hybrid and cloud environments. 

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. 

Leonardo UK is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to join the Cyber & Security Solutions Division team. This role is focused on…. 

What you will do as a Senior Data Engineer

• Design, build, and maintain secure, scalable data solutions across the full lifecycle: acquisition, integration, storage, processing, and analysis 

• Develop tools for data-driven insights and task automation 

• Research and adopt emerging technologies 

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define data and tool requirements 

• Work with cloud platforms and diverse operating systems  

• Support development and deployment of machine learning models 

• Collaborate with DevOps Engineers, Data Scientists, Analysts and Cyber Consultants 

• Leverage big data technologies and orchestration tools 

• Lead small work packages and provide technical guidance to junior engineers. 

• Contribute to design decisions and ensure quality of outputs. 

What you’ll bring 

• Proven experience in data engineering with ability to work independently and take ownership of deliverables.  

• Strong Python and SQL skills, with experience building and optimising data pipelines.  

• Understanding of database architecture (SQL and NoSQL) and cloud technologies.  

• Ability to lead small work packages and provide technical guidance to junior engineers.  

• Experience contributing to design decisions and ensuring quality of outputs.  

• Strong problem-solving mindset and ability to collaborate across teams.  

• Excellent communication skills for engaging stakeholders and sharing technical insights. 

Core Areas (must have): 

• Ownership of deliverables and quality. 

• Leadership of small work packages. 

• Mentoring and knowledge sharing 

• Proven experience in data engineering 

• Strong Python and SQL skills 

• Understanding of database architecture e.g. SQL and NoSQL 

• Experience with ETL flows, data pipelines and orchestration tools 

• Experience with cloud technologies  

• Exposure to Docker and APIs 

• Critical thinking and problem-solving mindset 

Desirable: 

• Degree in STEM, Data, AI, or Programming-related field 

• Experience influencing technical decisions and supporting capability growth. 

• Experience with CI/CD practices  

• Experience with big data tools e.g. Spark, Hadoop, NiFi 

• Exposure to infrastructure scaling e.g. Kubernetes 

• Exposure to Ansible and Terraform 

• Understanding of ML algorithms and deployment 

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.  

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 

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 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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