Head of Engineering Capability

Job Description:

Your impact
Join us in shaping the future of Engineering excellence.  As our Head of Engineering Capability, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving transformation across multiple lines of business – bridging disciplines, unlocking potential, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.  This leadership position offers a unique opportunity to influence strategic direction, elevate technical standards, and empower cross-functional teams to deliver with precision and purpose.  If you’re ready to make a lasting impact on how our engineering capability is defined, developed and deployed across a dynamic business, we want to hear from you.
Reporting to the VP Engineering Governance & EW LoB, this role is crucial for the EW & ISP Engineering Leadership teams. The Head of Engineering Capability oversees engineering process governance, transformation, and productivity improvements. The focus is on enhancing ways of working, implementing best practices, and leveraging tools and technologies for optimal outcomes. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in engineering management and process improvement. As Chair of the Process Council, the role involves leading council activities to ensure effective governance, optimization, and continuous improvement of organisational processes, collaborating with stakeholders, and driving process improvement initiatives.
Responsibilities:
•    Engineering Transformation: Lead initiatives to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and agility of the engineering organisation. Drive the adoption of methodologies like Agile, DevOps, and Lean. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. 
•    Productivity Improvements: Identify opportunities and implement initiatives for productivity enhancements. Monitor and analyse KPIs and metrics to measure productivity and find areas for improvement. Provide guidance and support to engineering teams. 
•    Tools and Technologies: Working with the wider LEUK Technology Units, assist in the evaluation, selection, and implementation of tools and technologies for improved productivity. Ensure effective integration and utilisation of these tools across the organisation. Stay updated with the latest trends and recommend new tools as appropriate. 
•    Development: Provide guidance and support to teams on process improvement methodologies and tools. Identify skill gaps and targeted development opportunities to enhance team capabilities. 
•    Leadership and Governance: Lead the Process Council in setting strategic goals and objectives for process improvement. Ensure effective governance of organisational processes, including the establishment of policies and standards. Facilitate council meetings, ensuring productive discussions and decision-making. 
•    Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process optimisation and drive initiatives to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Promote the adoption of best practices and methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the organisation. 
•    Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with senior leadership, department heads, and other stakeholders to align process improvement initiatives with business goals. Function as a liaison between the Process Council and other departments to ensure seamless communication and coordination. Provide regular updates to senior management on the progress and outcomes of process improvement initiatives. 
Ways of Working: 
•    Establish best practices for engineering processes including development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. 
•    Develop and enforce standardised processes to support consistency across projects. 
•    Encourage collaboration among cross-functional teams to improve coordination. 
•    Promote open and effective communication to align project goals and tasks.
What you’ll bring
Individual Capability, Knowledge, and Experience:
•    KPIs and Metrics: Skilled in monitoring and analysing KPIs to measure productivity and drive improvements using data-driven insights.
•    Engineering Processes: Strong understanding of best practices for engineering development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
•    Engineering Transformation: Proven experience in leading initiatives to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and agility.
•    Tools and Technologies: Familiar with a wide range of tools, including project management software, collaboration platforms, CI/CD tools, and testing frameworks.
•    People Skills: Effective communicator and collaborator with various stakeholders, able to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Education and Qualifications:
•    Degree level education.
•    Related professional qualifications are beneficial.
Experience:
•    Minimum of 10 years in engineering management, focusing on governance and process improvement.
•    Strong technical background with experience in engineering transformation and modern practices.
•    Proven experience in process improvement, governance, and leadership roles.
•    Understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile methodologies.
•    Ability to lead productive meetings and discussions.
Personal Characteristics:
•    Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork.
•    Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
•    Creative, innovative, and able to identify and scale new opportunities.
•    Persuasive, resilient, and able to work well under pressure.
•    Strategic thinker with attention to detail.
•    Driven, dynamic, adaptable, and able to prioritise and deliver under tight deadlines.
•    Effective communicator at all levels.
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.
 

Primary Location:

GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Additional Locations:

GB - Basildon

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid