Summer Placement Test Software Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; Easter Howgate; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days leave pro rata

Pension up to 15%

Mental health support

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd in Edinburgh offers a 13‑week Summer Placement for a Test Software Engineer (summer placement). The role provides hands‑on experience, coaching, and opportunities to work across disciplines within the product lifecycle.

The programme runs from 01/06/2026 to 27/08/2027. Placement requires on‑site days to integrate with the team and maximise learning in a supportive engineering environment.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills, written and verbal, digital.
• Ability to solve technical problems.
• Be a self‑motivated individual, willing to take on new challenges.
• Computer literacy (MS Office).

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of small packages of work to time, cost, and quality.
• Collaborate with colleagues across multiple disciplines to help project targets and solve problems.
• Apply your academic knowledge to real projects, including design, testing, qualification and/or technology support.
• Share ideas and communicate with your team to share knowledge and gain insight into the Business.
• Develop your skills with the guidance of an experienced supervisor and the wider engineering community.
• Develop software solutions to control measurement instrumentation devices and fully automate testing of a unit under test.

Skills

Strong communication

Problem solving

Self‑motivated

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s/Integrated Master’s degree or higher (MSc/PhD)

Disciplines: Security, Computer Communication and Networks, Computer & Network Technology & Cyber Security

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 13 weeks Summer Placement Programme gives you the chance to work on meaningful projects alongside industrial leaders, within multidisciplinary teams, and across the product lifecycle. Throughout your placement, you’ll receive coaching and support from a dedicated team, with the potential to return for future placements or progress onto our Graduate Development Programme.

The programme will run from 01/06/2026 to 27/08/2027.

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.

As a Summer Placement Test Software Engineer, you will

• Support the delivery of small packages of work to time, cost, and quality.
• Collaborate with colleagues across multiple disciplines to help project targets and solve problems.
• Apply your academic knowledge to real projects, including design, testing, qualification and/or technology support.
• Share ideas and communicate with your team to share knowledge and gain insight into the Business.
• Develop your skills with the guidance of an experienced supervisor and the wider engineering community.
• Develop software solutions to control measurement instrumentation devices and fully automate testing of a unit under test.

What you’ll bring

Entry Requirements

• Currently studying for a Bachelor’s/Integrated Master’s degree, or higher degree, such as MSc or PhD.
• For this role, acceptable degree disciplines include: Security, Computer Communication and Networks, Computer & Network Technology & Cyber Security.

Competencies we look for

• Strong communication skills, written and verbal, digital, etc.
• Ability to solve technical problems
• Be a self‑motivated individual, willing to take on new challenges
• Computer literacy (MS Office)

Personal Attributes

• Enthusiastic and motivated
• Curious with a desire to learn
• Strong communicator and team player
• Adaptable and resilient
• Positive and professional approach to work

Security Clearance

Many of our roles are subject to security requirements and, where applicable, export control restrictions arising from UK Government requirements and customer obligations 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.
• 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 - Edinburgh

Contract Type:

Fixed term

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid