What is your current role?
I’m the MBSE Lead for Leonardo’s Electronics business in the UK, with responsibility for improving how we implement MBSE across the organisation, ensuring we have the necessary tools, methods and guidance in place for people to do their jobs effectively.
Why did you choose to join Leonardo?
I joined the company in 2022, having already gained lots of experience in the Aerospace & Defence sector, mostly in systems engineering. I’d previously worked with people from Leonardo as part of Team Tempest, developing the technologies needed for the next generation of combat aircraft, so I knew a bit about the company and what it was like to work for them. I was attracted by Leonardo’s desire to grow its reach and reputation as a systems integrator for large and complex projects. Systems engineering, and MBSE in particular, is a big part of this, and I felt confident I could apply my knowledge and experience in a way that would influence how the company managed this ambition. It also helped that Leonardo had an office within walking distance of my home, so there was no re-location to worry about.
What does a typical day/week look like?
Since my role covers all of Leonardo’s Electronics sites in the UK, I usually work from home unless I need to attend in-person workshops or access computer systems that are not available from home. My day is usually a mix of Teams meetings and focused work time. I support a network of MBSE Champions who are distributed around the business to provide at-desk expertise to teams applying an MBSE approach. We’ve just finished a project to upgrade our MBSE toolset, so my focus will return to developing more training and guidance materials explaining how MBSE should be used to implement and advance Leonardo’s engineering process.
What do you get up to outside of work?
I enjoy Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and find it a great way to relax while getting some exercise. I’m part of a club and do weekly social paddles in Bristol’s Floating Harbour.
Would you recommend working at Leonardo and why?
I think Leonardo is a great place to work. Not only does it produce a wide variety of technically interesting products, it has modern facilities and supports a good work/life balance. Leonardo offers flexible ways of working, which is very important to me as I have two children and my wife is disabled.
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
As the first (and so far only) person in my family to go to university, I’m proud of the way I’ve managed to obtain two degrees, several professional qualifications and certifications, and become knowledgeable enough about a subject I’m interested in to be able to engage with industry and universities.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I like being a technical expert and enjoy learning. Leonardo is looking to sponsor an Engineering Doctorate student in MBSE, so I’m excited about becoming their industrial supervisor and seeing what they come up with. My next challenge is understanding the impact and potential benefits of SysML v2, and working out how we could adopt it within Leonardo and collaboratively across the international partners of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).