Free Space Optical Comms Systems Engineer

Leonardo Worldwide Corporation; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company in Southampton is looking for a Free Space Optical Comms Systems Engineer. The role involves modeling airborne communication systems and requires strong technical expertise, especially in MATLAB. Candidates should possess good interpersonal skills and a willingness to learn. The position offers a hybrid work model and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Generous leave with flexi-days

Award-winning pension scheme

Free mental health support

Access to online courses

Flexible working hours

Perks worth £500 annually

Qualifications

• Strong technical background in an engineering, physics or maths-based subject.
• Experience of developing models to analyse the performance of physical or information systems.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate ideas to varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain MATLAB models of optical-based airborne communication systems.
• Investigate new approaches for customer requirements.
• Run simulations to predict performance.

Skills

Strong technical background in an engineering, physics or maths-based subject

Experience of developing models to analyse performance of systems

Good interpersonal skills

Tools

MATLAB

Job description

Free Space Optical Comms Systems Engineer

Leonardo, Southampton, England, United Kingdom

Your impact

Are you a Systems Engineer who loves contributing to the UK’s Defence Industry and making impactful change? Leonardo has a fantastic opportunity for an Engineer to work on the modelling of airborne Free Space Optical Communication systems. You will be working on real Engineering problems, designing and developing solutions that sit at the heart of our products.

Job Description

Our Systems Engineers span across a range of activities that help pull together all the necessary engineering and technology strands into a high-performance system. As a Systems Engineer, you will bridge the gap between the theoretically possible and the practically implementable. The successful candidate will work with subcontractors and industry partners to construct a model, devise and run experiments, and interpret the results.

What You’ll Do

• Build and maintain MATLAB models of optical-based airborne communication systems, including developing blocks and integrating blocks from subcontractors and industry partners.
• Investigate new approaches to achieve the customer’s requirements.
• Run simulations to predict performance.
• Discuss the experiments and results internally and with external stakeholders, including customers, external partners and subcontractors.
• Work cooperatively with subcontractors and international partners to achieve a common solution.
• Assemble, integrate and test subsystems.
• Provide input to a proposal to create an internationally recognised standard for Optical Communications.

What You’ll Bring

You really must have

• Strong technical background in an engineering, physics or maths-based subject.
• Experience of developing models to analyse the performance of physical or information systems.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate ideas to varied audiences.

It would be nice if you had knowledge/experience of

• MATLAB
• Software engineering techniques
• Digital Modulation, Channel Coding and other aspects of the physical layer of a wireless communication system
• Free Space Optical Communications techniques
• Optics and optical systems

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, which 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.

• 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.
• 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: GB – Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid

Seniority level: Entry level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Other, Information Technology, and Engineering

Industries: Defense and Space Manufacturing, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, and Computer and Network Security

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