Leonardo is a global industrial group, among the main global players in Aerospace, Defence and Security that realises multi-domain technological capabilities in Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cyber Security and Space. With over 60,000 employees worldwide, the company has a solid industrial presence in Italy, the UK, Poland and the US. It also operates in 150 countries through subsidiaries, joint ventures and investments. A key player in major international strategic programmes, it is a technological and industrial partner of governments, defence administrations, institutions and companies.Within the GCAP Joint Venture, in the GCAP Technical Leadership UO, we are looking for a Delivery Manager - Synthetics for GCAP HQ in Reading (UK).The Product Delivery Manager - Synthetics is accountable for the end-to‐end delivery, evolution, and service of the enterprise Synthetics Product Line, including the Virtual Platform (VP), the Synthetic Environment (SE), and the Simulation Framework that integrates models and connects the VP to the SE. The role enables iterative integration as a primary means to accelerate the delivery of pan-enterprise products, supporting operational analysis and CONOPS validation, concept development, engineering design, system and subsystem integration, test and evaluation (HIL, SIL, MIL), core platform certification and qualification and synthetic training. The post drives a common set of tools, processes, data models and standards across partners and domains, underpinned by a shared model and data repository and a collaborative IT environment that supports connectivity with partner edge devices. The Product Delivery Manager ensures seamless interoperability across tools and simulator hardware in line with digital thread principles while establishing robust V&V of models and data to support certification and evidence‐based assurance.ObjectivesProduct Delivery and Lifecycle Management
Own the delivery and continuous improvement of Synthetics products and services, including the Virtual Platform, Synthetic Environment, Simulation Framework, scenario libraries, behavioural models, visualisation, data capture, and post‐processing and analytics tools.Provide specialist expertise in modelling and simulation, co‐simulation, distributed simulation and HIL/SIL/MIL integration, supporting deployment, customisation and optimisation of lifecycle processes.Translate business and engineering needs into clear road‐maps, delivery plans and prioritised backlogs spanning operational analysis, concept development, engineering design, integration, test and evaluation, certification and training.Advise on best practices across teams (e.g. model development workflows, V&V and model maturity, correlation with rig and real platform data, configuration management, scenario authoring and governance).Define, develop and deploy processes, methods and work instructions for Synthetics, including integration points with enterprise systems (e.g. Digital Thread, PLM, requirements, test management, data lake) and with Parent Companies and Domains capabilities.Ensure solutions are delivered on time, within scope, budget and agreed quality and performance targets (e.g. fidelity, determinism, latency, frame rate, availability).Manage upgrades, enhancements, obsolescence and decommissioning across the product lifecycle, including toolchain refresh, model baselines, scenario catalogues, simulator hardware refresh and cloud or on‐premise environments.
Stakeholder and Business Engagement
Capture, challenge and consolidate requirements across partners and domains to avoid duplication and fragmentation and to drive convergence on common toolsets and methods.Communicate product vision, scope, risks and progress to technical and non‐technical audiences, providing transparent release notes, road‐maps and service performance reports.Develop and implement workforce and cultural initiatives, including common training pipelines and materials to ensure consistent understanding and application of processes and methods.Liase with other relevant DE&D Product Owners and Delivery Managers and Engineering Stakeholders.Define and design domain and supply‐chain integration into the Synthetics Product Line, coordinating dependencies with simulator hardware providers, model suppliers and system integrators.Lead business change to embed digital thread ways of working and support the transition of people to the processes, frameworks and tools in scope, including the production of targeted training and enablement materials.
Governance, Standards and Data Quality
Ensure adherence to relevant enterprise standards, promoting aligned toolsets and documenting any agreed and justified differences endorsed by SMEs.Define and enforce data models, naming conventions, metadata standards, model maturity labels, V&V status tags, scenario catalogue structures and access controls, including IP protection and export control considerations.Support regulatory, safety, quality and audit requirements related to engineering data and digital continuity, ensuring traceability from models and simulations to requirements, tests and certification evidence.Embed robust configuration management and change control for models, scenarios, interfaces and simulation software, with clear baselining and release governance.
Delivery Execution and Operational Excellence
Coordinate delivery across internal teams, partners, suppliers and enabling functions with clear ownership, RACI and interface control, including the collaborative working environment and partner edge connectivity.Monitor service performance, model fidelity and correlation, technical debt, risks and dependencies, and manage capacity for priority campaigns and programme milestones.Drive incident resolution, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions and continuous service improvement to increase simulation throughput and reliability.Balance near‐term delivery needs with long‐term architecture and data strategy, maintaining modular, open, scalable and secure simulation capabilities aligned to digital thread principles and multi‐level security needs.Ensure seamless interoperability across tools and simulator hardware needed for Synthetics activities, minimising friction across pillars and domains.
Vendor and Technology Management
Support relationships with key technology vendors, system integrators, cloud and infrastructure providers and simulator hardware suppliers.Support contract management, licence optimisation and vendor performance reviews; define SLAs and acceptance criteria relevant to Synthetics (e.g. determinism, latency budgets, fidelity metrics).Contribute to technology evaluations, proofs of concept and strategic tool selection (e.g. co‐simulation, HIL interfaces, orchestration frameworks, visualisation pipelines, model repositories).Drive technology innovation, including CI/CD for models, containerisation, GPU acceleration, AI‐assisted scenario generation and data synthesis, configuration‐as‐code and MBSE integration.
Essential Qualifications
Previous experience in a similar role (minimum 5 years) within defence or aerospace, ideally in modelling and simulation or synthetic environments.Degree in engineering, computer science or a related technical discipline.Service Management certification or experience (e.g. ITIL).Project or Programme Management qualification (e.g. APM, Prince2) or demonstrable experience managing complex delivery.First‐hand knowledge of relevant technologies in synthetics, including simulation frameworks, virtual platforms, distributed simulation and HIL/SIL/MIL integration.Proven experience delivering modelling and simulation solutions in complex, multi‐partner environments.Strong understanding of engineering processes, data governance and digital thread principles.Experience working with cross‐functional teams (engineering, manufacturing, IT, quality and system integrators).Ability to manage multiple stakeholders, dependencies and competing priorities across domains and partners.Strong delivery mindset with experience in waterfall, agile or hybrid delivery models.Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts for non‐technical audiences.
SenioritySeniorCYS GCAP Joint Venture Headquarters Delivery Manager Synthetics • Nerviano, Milano, IT#J-18808-Ljbffr