Summer Placement Test Software Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; Easter Howgate; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm is seeking a Summer Placement Test Software Engineer to work on real engineering challenges in Scotland. Candidates should be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant field. The role involves developing test solutions, working with experienced engineers, and gaining hands-on experience. This opportunity promises valuable insights into engineering processes and career advancement in a supportive environment.

Benefits

25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays

Award-winning pension scheme

Free mental health support

Free access to online courses

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a similar field.
• Self-motivated and willing to take on new challenges.
• Experience in related project work or placements is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop test solutions for various radar systems.
• Assist in the definition of software for Future Test Software Architecture.
• Work on real engineering problems and deliver technical reports.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Communication Skills

Adaptability

Problem-Solving

Education

Upper Second Class Bachelors/Integrated Masters degree

Higher degree (MSc or PhD)

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 bigger—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.

The 13-week Summer Industrial Placement Programme

We have created a programme across our UK sites that not only increases your technical skills, but gives you the opportunity to work on meaningful real life projects, alongside experienced engineers and graduates across our business.

You will receive coaching and support to achieve your personal goals and work in multidisciplinary teams to gain as much experience across the product lifecycle from your time in industry as possible. Our ultimate aim is to see you through your undergrad years and successful placements will result in an offer to return for further placements or for an offer on our Graduate Development programme.

The programme will run from 1st June 2026 to 28th August 2026.

As a Summer Placement Test Software Engineer you will:

Work on real engineering problems within either the Radar, Advanced Targeting or Support business areas. You will have the opportunity to be involved in supporting a wide range of tasks across multiple projects/products, such as:

• Developing test solutions for:
  • Captor radar for the Typhoon fighter jet
  • Raven radar for the SAAB Gripen fighter jet
  • Our family of Surveillance AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars
  • IRCM (Infra-Red Counter Measures) systems
  • Laser target designator or laser ranging systems
• Defining software for our Future Test Software Architecture.
• Advancing our results generation and analysis understanding.
• Be involved in the investigation and implementation of our ‘Future Factory’ aspirations.

Within the Test Software Engineering community you will be given the opportunity to learn the skills required for software development, including developing practical skills in different software development environments, understanding of key technologies, developing experience using test programming tools to interface with instrumentation hardware. You will deliver technical reports and presentations on your work assignments to your supervisor and fellow placement students.

Most of your learning will be delivered via on the job experience by working on software development programmes within live projects delivering complex test solutions to our customers. Additional formal technical training will be provided as required.

You will work with an experienced engineer who will provide day‑to‑day guidance and will be introduced to test software engineering processes, methods, technology and tools, with particular emphasis placed on learning practical skills that may not be easily gained or experienced in the academic environment of a university.

What you’ll bring

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Currently undertaking a minimum of a Bachelors level degree Mechanical Engineering (or similar field).
• Be a self‑motivated individual, willing to take on new challenges and drive continuous personal development.
• Strong communication skills across a variety of mediums i.e. written, verbal, digital, etc.
• The ability to develop effective working relationships with peers and stakeholders.
• Adaptable to the ever changing demands that will be encountered within the role.
• Offer novel ideas and methods for solving technical problems, drawing on personal experiences and knowledge learned during academic studies.
• Demonstrate relevant project work and/or placements in Industry are beneficial, but not essential.

Entry Requirements

All of our placements should be working towards (a) a minimum of an upper Second class Bachelors/Integrated Masters degree, or (b) a higher degree, such as an MSc or PhD. In all cases the subject should be Software Engineering, Computer Science or another relevant discipline.

All successful candidates must be returning to university after their Summer Placement, i.e. not in their final year.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC). 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.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location: GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type: Fixed term

Hybrid Working: Onsite