Meet Our People
FIONA CLARK
EW Operational Capability Lead
WHY DID YOU JOIN LEONARDO?
I joined as a graduate way back in 1984 as I wanted to do something interesting with my maths degree. The role of Systems Engineer seemed to offer more interesting challenges than, say, working in a bank or as an accountant. As Leonardo is quite a large company, I have been really lucky to work in a number of areas since, including Simulation & Modelling, Customer Training and Business Development.
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?
My current job is in the Capability Team, covering the operational use of Electronic Warfare equipment. The role has many facets. I keep in touch with our development teams throughout the equipment design and attend equipment trials once the kit is mature enough, acting as a “critical friend” to ensure the kit is as operationally capable as possible. I support customer demonstrations, in the labs or in in our trials aircraft, to showcase our equipment to potential customers. The role also allows me to support the Sales team in providing customer-friendly technical documents and occasionally I travel abroad with the team to provide a level of technical detail to discussions, if required.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Getting to fly! There is nothing quite like seeing our equipment perform in a live environment and seeing our customers realise just how good the operational capability is. I also enjoy working through solutions with the engineers in the early days of development to iron out the inevitable wrinkles you find in developing such complex, high level engineering equipment.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE WORKS FOR LEONARDO?
Many reasons! No day is the same as the last; being given a great deal of responsibility and respect; working in a friendly environment with the brightest people in the field, on technology that is truly cutting-edge. Plus, I am able to work hours and days in line with my daughter’s school hours, giving me a fantastic work-life balance.
RACHAEL CARLIN
Lead Software Engineer
WHY DID YOU JOIN LEONARDO?
I joined as a graduate in 1997, after completing my degree at Glasgow University. I was keen to join the company’s Graduate Programme, as it provided on-the-job-training and the opportunity to work on the Captor-M Radar for the Eurofighter with highly skilled engineers. The team environment was very supportive and this ethos still exists in today’s business.
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?
I’m the Software Function Lead for Typhoon. I’m responsible for the functional management and software process governance within the Typhoon Business Area. This involves looking after:
- People
- Resource allocation and recruitment
- Staff career development and training
- Processes
- Looking at the introduction of Agile development
- Ensuring that Software Development plans are in place and being followed
- Tools and technologies
- Ensuring the Software Engineers have the correct tools available to them to do their job
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
I like the variety my job gives me; every day is different and I enjoy engaging with people across the business. I feel a sense of ownership in my position and I’m committed to getting the most out of every situation for the business.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE WORKS FOR LEONARDO?
Leonardo is a great company to join for many reasons. It’s an innovative, dynamic engineering company with a talented workforce at its core. The company benefits allow a good work-life balance and this has allowed me to enjoy two year-long maternity leaves and continue with my career seamlessly each time I’ve returned. The training provided is second to none and there’s so much support given from experienced engineers. Last but not least, Edinburgh is a beautiful city to work and live in.
MARC BARTHOLOMEW
Technical Apprentice
WHAT DID YOU STUDY AT SCHOOL?
I studied at Beauchamps High School where I was interested in Science and Design & Technology subjects. When it was time to choose my GCSE options, I chose Triple Science, Resistant Materials and Business Studies. I then started studying Double Maths, Physics, and Chemistry A levels at Seevic College. However, after the first year I decided to start again with a BTEC in Engineering.
During my BTEC project I decided to make an electric guitar. This has now become one of my hobbies and I’m now half way through designing my fourth guitar.
WHY DID YOU THINK AN APPRENTICESHIP WAS THE RIGHT PATH FOR YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT?
Apprenticeships offer the chance to learn first-hand what skills are critical in different career paths. You also get a chance to try various engineering placements so you can decide which area you most enjoy and which you can excel at. With the Leonardo apprentice scheme I was also able to continue my studies and I began my BTEC HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering as I joined the company.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE LEONARDO APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME?
Leonardo products and the flexibility offered by the Apprenticeship Scheme.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION IN LEONARDO?
I'm a Technical Apprentice currently working in Electronics. The role involves completing various three-month placements and learning about different technical departments, such as Assembly and Test, Machine Component Centre, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, and Software Engineering.
TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL WEEK?
Most weeks are very busy. As well as working, I am a lead organiser of the Rampaging Chariots competition which is held at Leonardo each year. I am also studying for my degree in Electronics where I have one day of study leave each week to attend lectures.
The work within the electronics placement varies, from testing new products to designing and building circuit boards and cable assemblies. You also need to write up tasks and complete knowledge questions for your NVQ.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The best part of my current role is being able to contribute to the design of new products such as our thermal camera technology, such as that used on the BBC 'Planet Earth II' Series. I assisted with ensuring our Horizoncamera met ONVIF specification for Video over IP (VoIP) so that the camera could can be controlled over a network, much like a CCTV camera.
I have also conducted a fairly detailed failure analysis of our Hawk cameras to establish any common issues during manufacture and developing methods of improving this process.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST MOMENT/BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT AS A LEONARDO APPRENTICE SO FAR?
Gaining sponsorship for my BEng(hons) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Greenwich University after excelling within my Electronics placement and expressing an interest in working within the Electronics department full time. I am due to complete my degree in May 2018.
I was also incredibly honoured to have been shortlisted for the 2016 Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Apprentice of the Year award
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO NEXT?
Once I finish my degree and apprenticeship, I will be promoted to become an Engineer. From there I would like to work towards gaining chartership, so I can be recognised as a Chartered Engineer.
WHY SHOULD ASPIRING ENGINEERS CONSIDER AN APPRENTICESHIP AT LEONARDO?
Aspiring engineers should consider an apprenticeship if they do not know what discipline of engineering they want to focus on. As engineering is such a broad topic, it is extremely useful that the Leonardo apprenticeship scheme allows you to experience the job roles available in different sectors so that you can establish which area you are most suited to.
EMIKA SANDHIYA
Principal Microwave Engineer
WHY DID YOU JOIN LEONARDO?
Leonardo is at the forefront of radar technology with innovation being the very engine of our products. As a microwave engineer, I was keen to expand my skillset and gain experience across the field – from component level design right through to system level design with test & measurement opportunities. Leonardo has offered an excellent platform for my professional development and in my time working here, I have been involved in Monolithic Microwave ICs (MMICs) design, multi-layer microwave PCB design, system level architecture, and a wealth of test and measurement experience, ranging from wafer-level mm-scale devices to a complete AESA radar in an anechoic chamber. This has afforded me an unprecedented level of experience, with a bird’s eye view on the development of a cutting-edge radar system, which in turn allows me to keep at the forefront of microwave radar engineering and develop my expertise in the area.
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?
My main activities are the design, build and testing of innovative RF & Microwave solutions for our radar systems. I work as part of an inter-disciplinary team to provide a complete antenna solution. This includes holding internal design reviews for each stage of the process and presenting progress reviews to external customers. Typically, my day will involve a mix of detailed microwave design, requirements capture, preparing and delivering design and progress reviews, and liaising with the team members from different disciplines to ensure our common goals towards product development remain on course.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
I enjoy the variety of work that I am involved in on a day-to-day basis. There is never a dull moment as I always feel I’m learning, as well as developing my skillset and knowledge base. Working in a multi-faceted team towards a common solution, provides endless opportunities to grow as a well-rounded engineer, and working at Leonardo definitely provides plenty of scope for this. The people I work with are an approachable, friendly and knowledgeable bunch who are a pleasure to work alongside.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE WORKS FOR LEONARDO?
Leonardo thrives on innovation and developing cutting-edge products – it is great to be able to contribute to that and be a part of world-leading technology development. On a personal level, being a mum, I have benefited greatly from Leonardo's generous maternity leave and continue to benefit from the flexible working policy which allows me to get the most out of my career and continue to share those important moments with my young family.
JOHN CLARK
Systems Architect, Systems Engineering
WHY DID YOU JOIN LEONARDO?
I joined Leonardo to broaden my career in communications Electronic Warfare technology, having come from a mainly tactical communications background. Leonardo offered me the opportunity to work in a transnational setting, designing the solution architecture for complex multi-domain systems.
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?
I work directly with clients to understand and capture their technical and through life management requirements which allows me to consider the optimum approach to an architecture that best meets the user needs and provides a timely and economic solution.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The work is really interesting and I get the chance to work with many highly skilled colleagues in different UK and overseas sites. I also work in a very supportive and team-oriented environment.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE WORKS FOR LEONARDO?
Leonardo has a very wide range of technical capabilities in the Land, Maritime and Aerospace markets. This enables us to work on cutting-edge, cross-domain solutions that provide a technically challenging and personally rewarding career experience that can be hard to experience elsewhere.
In addition, I have found that the company has a refreshingly modern approach to valuing its staff, and, as such, offers a really good flexible scheme for working hours that fit very well around my family needs, allowing me to build up flexi-credit and take additional days leave when the need arises.
LAURA MARSDEN
Head of Cyber Consulting
WHAT DID YOU CHOOSE TO JOIN LEONARDO?
I was working as a Management Consultant in Australia but looking for opportunities back in the UK. After spending three years outside the defence industry, I felt that I wanted to return and bring back the commercial experience I had gained. I approached my network on LinkedIn and saw that I knew a couple of people who worked with Leonardo. They spoke very highly of the company and its people, and I liked the diverse opportunities that were available.
TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL DAY
I currently manage over 50 personnel working on up to 10 different programmes of work across many clients. My days are hugely varied and can involve a number of tasks including technically assuring the work my team is delivering, developing new approaches and capabilities, conducting business-winning activities to drive the business forward, and meeting new and existing clients to discuss current and future opportunities.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT WORKING AT LEONARDO?
I enjoy the work environment and team we have in Bristol. We are at the forefront of the Cyber Security environment and offer opportunities for people to work with a range of technologies and customers. It is equally challenging and rewarding, and the opportunities are endless.
WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS WITH THE COMPANY?
I am hugely ambitious and hope that I have a bright future with Leonardo. I am enjoying my current role and the challenge I have in growing the team to support the Division and wider Leonardo organisation. I see that the Cyber Security environment is constantly evolving and becoming a board level concern across all industries. I hope to continue supporting our customers in understanding their Cyber Enterprise Risk and helping them develop strategies and solutions to protect themselves.