Alex Speed

Building credible systems engineering for complex defence programmes.

Currently working as a Senior Systems Engineer on SAGE ESM. Experience includes systems qualification planning, integration and test, platform support, certification documentation, and leading investigations to improve delivery and production performance.

Current role
Senior Systems Engineer
Specialism
Integration, verification, certification
Professional body
IET member

About

Focused on practical systems engineering.

My experience covers systems acceptance and certification, integration and verification, test planning, investigation activity, and technical support to project teams and end users. I enjoy working on technically challenging problems, turning complex activity into something structured and deliverable, and following new ideas across defence startups and novel engineering applications.

Core skills

Systems integration and verification Qualification and certification planning Test and evaluation documentation Investigation leadership Technical documentation Stakeholder communication Test procedure development

Education

Swansea University

Studied electronic engineering and later supported teaching in analogue design, helping students understand circuit fundamentals and laboratory work.

Certifications and recognition

  • Registered member of the IET
  • ASEC 2025 delegate representing Leonardo Electronics UK
  • Field Service Representative approval
  • Company QA stamp holder

Experience

Senior Systems Engineer

Leonardo

Jul 2025 - Present

Experience planning and coordinating qualification activity, supporting integration programmes, writing certification documentation, and leading production-focused investigations for SAGE ESM.

  • Responsible for generating qualification activity control plans and test procedures while working closely with hardware engineering.
  • Provided test and analysis support for a high-profile integration programme and worked across engineering specialisms to support successful delivery.
  • Led a complex investigation into a production problem area, maintaining the plan with design authorities, project management, and project controls.

Systems Engineer

Leonardo

Sep 2024 - Jul 2025

Experience in systems acceptance and certification, verification programme planning, formal test leadership, and overseas integration and flight trials.

  • Generated detailed verification schedules, test management tools, and work breakdowns aligned to resource constraints and programme objectives.
  • Authored functional and performance verification procedures, automated test inputs, logbooks, and reports used as certification evidence.
  • Supported overseas integration and customer flight trials, presenting findings to programme management, capability heads, and chief engineers.

Graduate Systems Engineer

Leonardo

Sep 2023 - Sep 2024

Worked across integration and verification, fault-finding, product delivery, and production support while building practical systems engineering experience on SAGE ESM.

  • Generated verification and qualification procedures, technical notes, automated test scripts, and wider systems documentation.
  • Played a leading role in system and sub-system investigations, briefing chief engineers, design authorities, and programme stakeholders.
  • Supported programming, testing, and delivery activity for several system variants while helping improve production handover processes.

Selected work

High-level projects and investigations

Examples are intentionally framed around outcomes, planning, and engineering leadership rather than sensitive technical detail.

Production Capability Investigation

Planned and led a cross-functional investigation into a complex production problem area, building the plan, coordinating stakeholders, and reporting progress to the wider engineering community.

Identified a solution expected to deliver time and resource savings while supporting a broader initiative to improve production throughput.

Verification Programme Planning

Built verification schedules, work packages, and supporting tools to make formal test activity manageable, traceable, and aligned to wider programme plans.

Improved readiness, visibility, and day-to-day control during verification activity.

Platform Integration Support

Provided in-person and remote technical support during integration and trial activity, including customer-facing explanation of system concepts and tooling.

Supported effective communication with end users and internal stakeholders while keeping delivery focused and technically grounded.