Summer Placement Software Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave pro rata

Pension up to 15%

Mental health support & employee-led D

4,000+ online courses

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd invites students to join a Software Engineer Placement, offering hands-on experience across the software development lifecycle. You will work with developers and experts in a challenging, rewarding environment to apply your studies to real projects.

Spending at least three days on-site weekly, you’ll contribute to design, implementation, integration and testing activities, while receiving coaching to achieve placement objectives and personal development goals.

Qualifications

• Currently studying a science-based degree e.g. Software Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or Electronic Engineering (BSc (Hon) / BEng (Hon) / MEng).
• Be enthusiastic and passionate about designing software and writing code with experience from education or outside interests.
• Have some experience of computer programming and an object-oriented language (Java, C++, C# or JavaScript).

Responsibilities

• Gaining experience as part of a multi-disciplinary Integrated Project Team within the software engineering lifecycle.
• Developing practical design techniques for products and learning the business context.
• Learn and apply software engineering processes from requirements analysis through testing.

Skills

Java

C++

C#

JavaScript

UML

Education

BSc/MEng in Software Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

Job Description: Your impact Are you ready to make an impact and gain hands‑on experience working on real‑world projects from day one? At Leonardo, we’re looking for summer placement students who want to be part of something extraordinary shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. Our placements are designed to help you apply your studies in a practical setting, develop your technical skills, and gain valuable insight into how our business operates.

Our Summer Placement Programme

Our role offers you the chance to spend a year with us, working on meaningful projects alongside subject matter experts, within multidisciplinary teams, and across the product lifecycle. You’ll receive coaching and support from a dedicated team to help you achieve both your placement objectives and personal development goals. During your placement, you will be exposed to tools, technologies and processes.

You will be introduced to the software development processes and utilise state‑of‑the‑art methods, technology and tools. You will also gain experience on one or more aspects of the software development lifecycle, which could include; applied research, requirements analysis, design, implementation, integration, and test.

• applied research
• requirements analysis
• design
• implementation
• integration
• test

During your placement, we encourage you to spend at least three days each week on site to integrate with your team and maximise your learning experience. The programme will run from June - August 2027.

What you will do as a Software Engineer Placement

As part of our early careers community, you will work alongside developers and experts in an environment that is both challenging and rewarding.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Gaining experience, applying your knowledge of software engineering as part of a multi‑disciplinary Integrated Project Team.
• Developing practical skills in design techniques for products.
• Growing your understanding of the business as well as the software engineering lifecycle.

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge Required

Qualifications

This is an exciting and challenging Software Engineering opportunity for students currently studying a science‑based degree e.g. Software Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or Electronic Engineering (BSc (Hon) / BEng (Hon) / MEng.). You are expected to have an appropriate gap in studies. Be enthusiastic and passionate about designing software and writing code with experience of doing this from education or outside interests. You will have some experience of computer programming. Have some experience of an object‑oriented programming language such as Java, C++, C# or JavaScript and knowledge of UML (Unified Modelling Language) is an advantage but not essential. A full statement of courses and projects studied at university and corresponding grades/marks/percentage should be included in your CV. Applications are also welcomed from candidates who have completed a first degree and are looking to gain industrial experience prior to commencing a relevant higher degree (i.e. PhD, MSc).

Security Clearance

At Leonardo, 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

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 benefits package that supports your wellbeing, learning and development, and work‑life balance:

• Time to recharge: Our employees are entitled 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays. As a Summer Placement student you will receive this allowance pro rata.
• Secure your future: 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)
• Never stop learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn learning.

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

Primary Location: GB - Basildon Contract Type: Fixed term 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!