Graduate Systems Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave entitlement

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Employee stock ownership plan

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd in Edinburgh is hiring Graduate Systems Engineers as part of an 18-month programme. You will work on radar and AESA technologies, with opportunities in R&D and cross-project contributions. A strong STEM background is required and on-site learning is emphasized.

The programme starts at £34,000 per year with a £1,000 welcome bonus and a £1,000 exit bonus on completion. A Temporary Accommodation Allowance may apply; on-site presence is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Coding/programming experience.
• Relevant project work and industrial placements.
• Ability to solve problems as part of a team.
• Apply science and technology knowledge to real-world problems.

Responsibilities

• Requirement capture, design documentation, verification and validation.
• Algorithm design and test.
• Performance modelling and physics-based simulations.
• Data analysis across end-to-end systems.
• Applied research and blue-sky thinking.

Skills

Coding/programming

Relevant project work

Team problem solving

Applied science & tech knowledge

Education

2:2 Bachelors/Integrated Master’s or MSc/PhD in STEM

Job description

Job Description: Your impact Are you ready to launch your career and make an impact on real-world projects from day one? At Leonardo, we’re looking for graduates who want to be part of something extraordinary—shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. We are committed to developing our graduates into leading technical or business professionals, and as such we will also support you through your preferred route for professional development

We are looking for Graduate Systems Engineers to join our team in Edinburgh. Our 18 Month Graduate Engineering Programme

Our Graduate Programmes give you the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging projects alongside subject matter experts.

On joining, you will receive a starting salary of £34,000 per annum, plus a £1,000 welcome bonus. You’ll also be eligible for a £1,000 exit bonus upon successful completion of the programme. In addition, you may be eligible for a Temporary Accommodation Allowance (TAA), subject to specific criteria. We encourage you to spend at least three days each week on site to integrate with your team and maximise your learning experience.

As a Graduate Systems Engineer you will: Systems Engineers are involved in all aspects of design and development, from initial product design through to in-service support. They look at the big picture, determine how the system needs to operate and collaborate to produce the required overall operational behaviours. They also dive into the deepest level of detail – taking the system piece‑by‑piece and defining its design to the finest point. Our Systems Engineers can also actively engage in Research and Development, developing new concepts and conducting fundamental research into our future technologies.

As a Graduate Systems Engineer, you will work on real engineering problems within either the Radar or the Advanced Targeting business area. You will have the opportunity to be involved in supporting a wide range of tasks across multiple projects/products, such as:

• The radar for the Typhoon fighter jet
• The radar for the SAAB Gripen fighter
• Our family of Surveillance AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars
• An IRCM (Infra-Red Counter Measures) system
• Our laser target designator or laser ranging systems

Key Responsibility Areas

• Requirements capture, design documentation, verification and validation
• Algorithm design and test
• Performance modelling; building physics‑based models to test our designs through computer simulation
• Data analysis; end‑to‑end systems analysis using synthetic and ‘real world’ data
• Applied research; from product improvements to blue‑sky thinking

You will join a dynamic and innovative team who will provide day‑to‑day guidance and on‑the‑job training, introducing you to systems engineering processes, methods, technology and tools. You will also receive targeted training, developing the engineering skills and necessary domain knowledge required to achieve technical excellence and be a successful Systems Engineer.

What you’ll bring

All of our roles require (a) a minimum of a 2:2 Bachelors/Integrated Master’s degree, or (b) a higher degree, such as a MSc or PhD in a STEM related subject. In addition to this, we would be interested in hearing from you if you have experience in:

• Coding/programming.
• Relevant project work and/or placements in industry.
• Solving problems as part of a team
• Applying your science and technology knowledge to solve a real‑world problem

Security Clearance

Many of our roles are subject to security and export control restrictions set by UK Government Security requirements and customer obligations. As a result, and in line with the UK Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) requirements, all successful applicants will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record declaration information and employment and/or education history verification for the previous five years. For staff operating in more sensitive posts, there is an additional range of personnel security controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV). As part of this process, a range of factors may be considered, including an individual's background, travel history, nationality, previous nationalities held and other information relevant to the vetting assessment. To be eligible for National Security Vetting at SC level, applicants will generally be expected to have continuously resided in the UK for the previous five years. For DV clearance, this is typically ten years. In some circumstances, time spent overseas may be accepted, with additional overseas checks. Additional vetting requirements may apply upon appointment. For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do, key contributors in shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. 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.

• Time to recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your future: Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• 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).
• Rewarding performance: All employees are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Join in our success: Our annual Employee Stock Ownership Plan provides you the opportunity to own shares in Leonardo.
• Tailored perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/company-benefits

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, communities and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid

International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo. The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know‑how across the generations. Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!