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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Work on real-world projects and gain hands-on experience in engineering.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a leader in innovation and global safety.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, mental health support, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Why this job: Make an impact while developing your skills alongside experienced engineers.
- Qualifications: Studying Aerospace, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering or related fields.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for future placements and career growth.
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.
Our Summer Placement Programme
Our 13 weeks Summer Placement Programme gives you the chance to work on meaningful projects alongside subject matter experts, 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 1st June to 28th August 2026. We encourage you to spend at least three days each week on site to integrate with your team and maximise your learning experience.
What you’ll do as a Summer Placement Supportability Engineer
Supportability Engineers are integral to a product’s lifecycle from concept and initial design, through production, and into in-service support. They analyse and report on the Reliability, Maintainability and Testability (RMT) of a product and advise on design and development in order to satisfy customer specifications. Supportability Engineering are the experts in Root Cause Analysis and are integral during production when manufacturing defects are observed. As a Summer Placement Supportability Engineer, you will contribute to a real ongoing project within the department alongside experienced engineers who will provide training, mentoring and guidance. You will be exposed to real-world engineering and learn about the use of Supportability processes and tools.
In Edinburgh, Supportability Engineering are directly involved with:
- IRCM (Infra-Red Counter Measures) Systems
- Laser Target Designator and Laser Ranging Systems
- Eurofighter Typhoon Radar
- SAAB Gripen Radar
- Surveillance AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) Radars
- The Global Combat Air Programme
Examples of summer placement projects include:
- Physics of Failure & Finite Element Analysis – an evaluation of Ansys Sherlock in addition to experience of other tools within Ansys suite
- Electronics Reliability Analysis - Evaluating Radar PCAs for Reliability, Maintainability, and Testability
- Lead Free & Materials Science – design, development and production support and interaction with engineers in a variety of functions and roles
- Data Analytics – producing reports using analysis from Production and Field Defect Data
What You’ll Bring
Entry Requirements
- Currently studying Aerospace, Electronics or Mechanical Engineering or related disciplines
Competencies we look for:
- Strong communication skills, written and verbal
- Ability to solve technical problems
- Computer literacy (MS Office)
- Appreciation of the lifecycle of a product and electronic product design
- A passion for reliability and root cause analysis
Personal attributes:
- Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and able to use initiative
- Analytical with an eye for data
- Outgoing with a willingness to ask questions
- Collaborative and flexible in approach
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).
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.
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
Additional Locations: GB - Newcastle
Contract Type: Fixed term
Hybrid Working: Hybrid
Summer Placement Supportability Engineer in Dunfermline employer: Leonardo
Contact Detail:
Leonardo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Summer Placement Supportability Engineer in Dunfermline
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or past employees on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about asking for insights into the company culture or the role. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research common questions for Supportability Engineers and practice your answers. We recommend using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and showcase your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion! During interviews, share your enthusiasm for reliability and root cause analysis. Talk about any relevant projects or experiences that highlight your skills and interest in the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the Summer Placement Programme and other opportunities right there.
We think you need these skills to ace Summer Placement Supportability Engineer in Dunfermline
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Supportability Engineer role. Highlight any relevant projects or coursework that showcase your technical abilities and problem-solving skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about engineering and how you can contribute to our team. Be specific about what excites you about the role and the projects we work on at Leonardo.
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication is key, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use proper grammar and structure to demonstrate your written communication skills, which are essential for this role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, you’ll have access to all the latest updates and information about the application process, plus it shows us you’re keen to be part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Reliability, Maintainability, and Testability (RMT) concepts. Familiarise yourself with the projects mentioned in the job description, like the Eurofighter Typhoon Radar or the Physics of Failure analysis. This will show that you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Since strong communication is key for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Prepare to discuss how you've worked in teams or solved technical problems in the past. Use examples from your studies or any relevant projects to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Prepare a few insightful questions about the role or the projects you'll be working on. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also your analytical mindset. For instance, you could ask about the tools used in data analytics or how the team approaches root cause analysis.
✨Be Yourself
Leonardo values self-motivation and enthusiasm, so let your personality shine through! Share your passion for engineering and reliability, and don’t hesitate to express your willingness to learn and collaborate. Authenticity can make a lasting impression.
