Summer Placement Software Engineer in London

Leonardo Science Central, Newcastle, England, United Kingdom. The 13-week Summer Placement Programme offers a paid opportunity to develop your current skillset in an innovative and practical environment, with the possibility of a future placement or a graduate development opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to real projects.
• Apply knowledge gained while studying in a practical way.
• Undertake activities including designing, testing, qualifying and supporting technology across our range of products.
• Communicate with team members to gain information and complete objectives.
• Work as part of an established engineering community, supported by a team of experienced engineers, and deliver small packages of work to time, cost and quality.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to achieve project targets and solve problems.
• Share knowledge with team members and complete tasks to a high standard in accordance with processes and procedures.
• Develop engineering skills with mentoring from a supervisor while working as a fully integrated team member.
• Prepare a short presentation at the start of placement to introduce yourself and outline what you will work on to the Head of Software and the wider team.
• Showcase what you have learned and achieved at the end of your placement to the Head of Software and the wider team.
• Particular emphasis will be placed on learning practical skills not easily gained in an academic setting.

What you will bring / Qualifications

• Minimum of a predicted 2:1 in a relevant degree discipline (e.g., Software Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or Electronic Engineering: BSc(Hons)/BEng(Hons)/MEng) to be considered for the 13-week paid placement as a Software Engineer at Leonardo.
• Competencies include an interest in software engineering for real-time development in avionic systems.
• Some experience of computer programming and enthusiasm for designing software and writing code.
• Experience with an object-oriented programming language (e.g., C++) and knowledge of UML is an advantage but not essential.
• A full statement of university courses and projects studied with corresponding grades should be included in your CV.
• Applications are welcome from candidates with a first degree seeking industrial experience before pursuing further study (e.g., PhD, MSc).

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated with drive and enthusiasm.
• Able to use initiative to achieve objectives.
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines amid changing priorities.
• Strong customer focus and responsiveness.
• Thorough, with a commitment to completing tasks to high standards.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes in our working policy.

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 security controls (NSV) may apply, potentially including eligibility for The Security Check (SC).

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are central to innovation, technology advancement, and global safety. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support wellbeing, learning and development, and work–life balance.

• Time to recharge: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata for placement students.
• 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 company benefits, visit the Leonardo careers site. We are committed to an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. If you have accessibility requirements for the recruitment process, please let us know.

Duration & location

1st June 2026 to 28th August 2026 • GB - Newcastle