Lead Configuration and Change Manager

Job Description:

Your Impact:

Our Design Integrity function are currently recruiting for Lead Configuration and Change Manager to oversee an expanding portfolio of world class Mission Critical and Flight Safety Involved Airborne Systems. You will be responsible for supporting and oversight of the internal Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) across the electronic warfare (EW) and Future Combat Air (FCA) Lines of Business (LoB).

In addition to this, you will be responsible for providing technical leadership for the configuration and data teams, as well as being responsible for defining implementing and maintaining the Configuration Management process across the full lifecycle of aerospace and defence programmes. Ensuring all product baselines including Hardware Firmware & Software are defined in accordance with contractual, regulatory and company standards throughout the product lifecycle.

Please note this role is working on a hybrid basis (3 days per week on site, and two days per week from home) and can be based near our following sites; Luton, Southampton, Bristol or Lincoln.

Your responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the integrity and traceability of all configuration items (CIs) across hardware, software, and documentation.
• Identification, agreement, and control of Configuration Items in alignment with programme and regulatory requirements.
• Approval and oversight of configuration management plans, including baselines, updates, and change implementation plans.
• Ensuring compliance with the Five Pillars of Configuration Management and all relevant aerospace and defence standards.
• Configuration Identification – defining, documenting, and controlling CIs, baselines (Functional, Allocated, Product, As-Built), and their relationships in PLM systems.
• Configuration Control – managing changes via First Pass Filters (FPF), Configuration Control Boards (CCB), and Configuration Implementation Boards (CIB) to ensure structured, compliant change approval and embodiment.
• Configuration Status Accounting (CSA) – capturing, maintaining, and reporting CI status, change records, and KPIs, providing actionable intelligence to the Head of Configuration.
• Configuration Audits – planning and leading Functional Configuration Audits (FCA), Physical Configuration Audits (PCA), and internal/supplier audits to verify conformity between design, production, and documentation.
• Configuration Planning & Governance – establishing the Configuration Management Plan (CMP), managing team capacity, workload forward load, training, and KPI performance to ensure CM governance aligns with programme and contractual obligations.

What you’ll bring:

• Lead the evaluation, classification, and management of Class I and Class II changes, ensuring appropriate review, approval, and traceability.
• Chair first-pass filter for all proposed changes, ensuring they meet standards before progressing to formal review.
• Chair or actively participate in Configuration Implementation Boards (CIB) and Change Control Boards (CCB), providing technical guidance and ensuring informed decisions.
• Ensure the impact of proposed changes is thoroughly assessed across design, production, operations, supply chain and security.
• Lead internal audits of configuration and change control processes, ensuring findings are addressed and corrective actions implemented.
• Manage supplier configuration audits and assessments to ensure compliance with configuration standards and contractual obligations.
• Acting as the point of escalation for supplier-related configuration issues and drive resolution.
• Good working Knowledge of TCU and dimensions would be desirable

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!

Primary Location:

Contract Type:

Hybrid Working: