Human Factors Engineer

Job Description:

At Leonardo, we’re pushing the boundaries of defence technology and shaping the future of aerospace capabilities. We are looking for a motivated and innovative Human Factors Engineer to join our team.

Your impact
We aren't just looking at traditional ergonomics—we are actively moving the field forward. We are exploring how people interact with future systems, focusing on the human factors of (a) teams (b) systems usability and management (c) distributed and flexible decision making, (b) modelling cognitive capabilities and complex problem solving, (d) autonomous systems/human teaming, and (e) the evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence.

This is an opportunity for someone coming straight out of a degree in psychology, ergonomics, or a related field. We don't expect you to know everything on day one. Instead, we are looking for someone who is innovative, flexible, and eager to understand the unique nature of our projects.

You will work closely with and provide support to our experienced Human Factors team across a wide range of projects. As you grow into the role, you will develop your own project management skills by taking ownership of smaller projects from start to finish.

Key Responsibilities

• Support & Collaborate: Work alongside experienced colleagues to integrate Human Factors into the design of complex defence systems.
• Explore the Future: Help us model cognitive loads and performance for individuals and teams operating complex systems.
• Innovate with Tech: Investigate and address the human factors of autonomous systems and the growing impact of AI on human-machine teaming.
• Apply Core Principles: Use User-Centred Design methodologies to evaluate and improve human-system interfaces and general ergonomics.
• Ensure Compliance: Ensure that our work complies with a variety of necessary standards for safety and usability.
• Grow & Lead: Gradually develop your project management skills by taking the lead on smaller, focused projects as your confidence and expertise grow.
• Teamwork: Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional engineering teams and work effectively both independently and as part of a group.

What you’ll bring

• Education: A degree in Human Factors, Ergonomics, Psychology, or a closely related discipline.
• Mindset: Highly innovative, flexible, and capable of learning quickly on the job. Strong initiative and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Interests: Clear evidence of an interest in the complexities of people, system interfaces, and how teams function.
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to work well within a team, alongside evidence of a basic understanding of, or interest in, project management.

Desirable Skills (What Would Be Nice to Have)

• An interest in or academic exposure to Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, or autonomous systems.
• Familiarity with cognitive psychology and human workload modelling.
• An understanding of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design and evaluation.
• Familiarity with AGILE development methodologies.
• 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. We have an opportunity to tailor the responsibilities of the role to the experience of the candidate, so we are open to candidates with all levels of supportability experience and knowledge with aspirations to develop. 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 9,500 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.

We are proud to have been recognised by Glassdoor as one of the Best Places to Work in 2025, based on employee feedback shared anonymously on its website.

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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Primary Location:

GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Additional Locations:

GB - Basildon, GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane, GB - Southampton

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid