Job Description:
Are you experienced in Project Controls and ready to make your next career move?
At Leonardo in Southampton we are looking for a Senior / Principal Project Controller to lead integrated planning and project controls across complex UK Defence programmes, including system-of-systems and development contracts.
Your impact
As Senior / Principal Project Controller you will develop and maintain integrated plans covering scope, schedule, cost, resources, and risk, ensuring alignment with contractual milestones, budget constraints, and defence governance standards.
Working within an established, multi-disciplinary team, you’ll be supporting programme governance, performance measurement, audit readiness and Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs) within secure environments.
What you’ll do as Senior / Principal Project Controller:
Integrated Planning
1. Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) in Primavera P6 aligned with contractual milestones
2. Define integrated schedules, resource plans, and time-phased cost allocation
3. Establish and maintain Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Organisation Breakdown Structure (OBS), Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM), control accounts, and planning structures
4. Ensure schedule integrity, critical path visibility, and milestone alignment
5. Conduct schedule risk analysis and recovery planning where required
Project Controls & Performance
6. Implement structured project controls frameworks aligned with defence best practice
7. Establish and maintain scope, schedule, and cost baselines
8. Support Earned Value Management (EVM) and performance analysis (CPI, SPI, ETC, EAC)
9. Monitor progress, resources, workload, and budget performance
10. Produce KPI reporting and support corrective actions to maintain programme delivery
Governance & Programme Support
11. Support bidding and early programme planning, including schedule and budget definition
12. Analyse contractual requirements and support risk management activities
13. Support Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs), governance reviews, and client reporting
14. Maintain programme control documentation including PMB, risk registers, and assumptions logs
What you’ll bring:
15. Primavera P6 experience
16. Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM)
17. Experience in integrating schedule, cost, and risk data
18. Experience working in secure defence environments
19. Project controls experience within defence, aerospace, or regulated industries
20. Experience supporting complex programmes or system-of-systems environment
It would be advantageous if you have the following:
21. APMG Project Controls Applied Knowledge
22. Understanding of MOD governance frameworks
23. SAP experience
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 will require National Security Vetting to SC level. It is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. A range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) will apply, this will include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit:
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.
24. Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
25. Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
26. 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).
27. Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
28. Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
29. Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
30. Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
31. 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