Principal Configuration Manager - Leonardo
Location: Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Job Description
Are you ready to lead and shape configuration management practices that underpin secure, high-integrity systems and services? At Leonardo UK, our Principal Configuration Managers provide expert guidance and leadership to ensure that engineering and business-critical assets are controlled, traceable, and aligned with project, operational, and compliance requirements.
You’ll lead cross‑functional collaboration, influence policy and process development, and drive continuous improvement across the configuration lifecycle.
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, mixing working from home and 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 Principal Configuration Manager to join the Cyber & Security Solutions Division team. This role focuses on delivering, maintaining, and improving platform and systems engineering solutions that underpin critical defence, government and public‑sector services.
What you will do as a Principal Configuration Manager
- Lead the definition, implementation, and governance of configuration management strategies across programmes and platforms.
- Own and maintain configuration baselines, ensuring traceability and compliance with internal standards and external regulations.
- Provide expert advice on configuration identification, change control, status accounting, and verification activities.
- Drive continuous improvement in configuration processes, tools, and reporting to support business effectiveness and audit readiness.
- Collaborate with engineering, delivery, and service teams to ensure configuration data supports operational and project needs.
- Represent configuration management in Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), influencing design, delivery, and support decisions.
- Lead or contribute to cross‑functional initiatives, including business planning, risk management, and capability development.
- Mentor and develop junior configuration professionals, fostering a culture of quality, governance, and innovation.
What you’ll bring
- Proven experience leading configuration management in complex engineering or service‑delivery environments, ideally within defence, government or regulated sectors.
- Deep understanding of configuration management principles, lifecycle integration, and change governance.
- Proficiency in configuration and collaboration tools (e.g. Jira, Confluence, SharePoint, PLM systems).
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret technical data and ensure consistency across systems and documentation.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
- A strategic mindset with the ability to challenge, innovate, and contribute to business planning and policy development.
- Professional credibility and visibility within your domain, with a track record of delivering results and driving improvement.
Core areas (must have)
- Strategic configuration leadership experience defining and leading configuration strategies across programmes or business units.
- Lifecycle integration expertise applying configuration management across the full system lifecycle, from design to decommissioning.
- Governance & Compliance – strong knowledge of standards such as ISO 10007, ITIL, and MOD DEF STANs, with experience supporting audits and regulatory compliance.
- Tooling & Automation – skilled in using and improving configuration tools and processes to enhance traceability and efficiency.
- Cross‑functional collaboration – ability to influence and align engineering, service, and business teams to ensure configuration integrity.
- Mentoring & Capability Development – experience developing others and contributing to the maturity of the configuration function.
- Business Acumen – understanding of how configuration supports broader business objectives, risk management, and operational effectiveness.
Desirable
- Experience supporting configuration in hybrid environments (e.g. on‑premise, cloud, SaaS).
- Experience administrating SharePoint sites.
- Familiarity with Agile, DevOps and DDaT‑aligned delivery environments.
- Knowledge of secure configuration practices and cyber‑security principles.
- Exposure to enterprise IT services such as Active Directory, Exchange or PKI.
- Industry certifications (e.g. ITIL Foundation, CM2, ISO 9001, PRINCE2).
- Experience working in secure or defence‑related environments.
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, including 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.
Location
This role can be based at one of our UK sites (insert site), with hybrid/custom working options where appropriate.
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 – Generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
- Secure your Future – 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.
- Never Stop Learning – Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Tailored Perks – Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits such as private healthcare, lifestyle discounts and gym memberships.
- Flexible Working – Flexible hours with hybrid working options.
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 – Rollestone
Additional Locations
GB – Bristol Building
Contract Type
Permanent
Hybrid Working
Hybrid
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
Defense and Space Manufacturing, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, and Computer and Network Security
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