Graduate Opportunities

Our Opportunities Application Process UK Locations
Leonardo's award-winning graduate programme develops promising young graduates into engineers and business professionals of the future.

As a large international technologically innovative company, the key to our success is the passion of our people. Each year, Leonardo seeks to recruit enthusiastic people who are willing to drive change and innovate, for its graduate programme. Your talent and energy are essential to the future of our high-tech business to continue evolving in the competitive market and to ensure we meet our customers’ needs.

From our focus on radar technology at our Edinburgh site, to our helicopters centre of excellence in Yeovil, we offer exciting opportunities to talented graduates who want to work at the forefront of our technology, gaining practical experience and developing in a supportive environment.

You’ll contribute to the development of electronic and information technologies for defence systems, aerospace, data, infrastructures, land security and protection and sustainable ’smart’ solutions. With the majority of our engineers having chartered status, you can look forward to working with highly skilled professionals that are passionate about their work.

Our graduate training programme has been designed to support your first steps after leaving university and to help you develop your career. Through a comprehensive induction programme, you will have the chance to gain a complete picture of the organisation and be involved in real challenges from day one. You will have the opportunity to learn from colleagues who are experts in their field, while always being encouraged to use your initiative.

Please click on the relevant tab below for details of the graduate opportunities available within our Electronics or Helicopters businesses in the UK.

Electronics, Defence and Security Systems


Do you want to work on real-time projects alongside leading scientists and engineers within a globally renowned company?

All our graduate roles require predicted minimum of either an upper second class honours degree in a relevant discipline (including physics, mathematics, electronic engineering, systems engineering, avionics and computer science for our technical engineering roles) or a higher degree such as an MSc. or PhD.

Applications will open in autumn 2022 for our graduate programme commencing in autumn 2023 at our Scottish and English sites, covering business support, engineering and manufacturing and supply chain.

We are globally renowned and are continually expanding, offering exciting opportunities to talented graduates who want to work at the forefront of our technology. With the majority of our engineers having chartered status, you can look forward to working with highly skilled professionals who are passionate about their work. On joining the Leonardo graduate programme, you will unlock a wealth of development opportunities and further learning. You will receive mentoring, coaching and support to achieve your personal goals and accreditation from your professional body. You will be working at the cutting-edge of technology, as well as enhancing your skills and business acumen, opening up your horizons to the diverse and dynamic ways in which your degree can be used.

Benefits

The Leonardo Electronics, Defence and Security Systems Graduate Development Programme is a two-year programme that allows graduates to gain practical experience within the organisation to support professional development. This is alongside various development activities at company and group level which aim to ensure a smooth integration into the company whilst providing essential skills, knowledge and networking opportunities.

With over 200 trainees from apprentices to graduates, a thriving social network exists, with regular social events organised to integrate newcomers.

As part of our ongoing commitment to young peoples' educational development (demonstrated by our Gold level accreditation by Investors in Young People), all UK graduates will attend short modules away from the office throughout the two years to develop themselves and network across the company. These will include orientation, self-awareness and tackling business problems, all underlined by Leonardo's core strategies. Discover more about the i-grad conference.

Entry requirements

  • Minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor’s Degree or a higher degree (such as MSc or PhD) in a relevant degree as stated above
  • Industry experience beneficial but not essential
  • Tenacity, fresh thinking and enthusiasm
  • Analytical Mind
  • A strong team player
  • Conscientious and keen to learn
  • A keen interest in pursuing a career in the aerospace industry
  • Must have been a permanent UK resident for a minimum of the past five years in order to meet security requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about our graduate programme

Helicopters


Leonardo Helicopters is a world leader in helicopter manufacture. We design, develop and manufacture an unrivalled range of helicopters and rotary wing technology for civil and military customers, with primary operations in the UK, USA, Italy and Poland.

Applications will open in autumn 2022 for our helicopters graduate programme commencing in autumn 2023 at our Yeovil site in the heart of Somerset.

The ideal candidates will have studied a degree bearing relevance to Engineering, Business Studies, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Procurement and Supply Chain, Finance or Business Information Systems, and will have a keen interest in pursuing a career in aerospace.

The two-year programme will provide a personalised placement plan to prepare you for a permanent role within the business, on successful completion of the scheme. It represents an excellent opportunity for a career-minded person to gain a breadth of experience in a number of areas, before moving into a full-time role.

Benefits

The Leonardo Helicopter Graduate Development Programme is a two-year programme that allows graduates to complete a number of 3-6 month placements designed to provide practical experience within the organisation.

Alongside this, graduates complete several development activities at company and group level, which aim to ensure a smooth integration into the company whilst providing essential skills, knowledge and networking opportunities.

With over 200 trainees at Leonardo Helicopters from apprentices to graduates, a thriving social network exists, with regular social events organised to integrate newcomers.

Graduates will be based primarily within our Yeovil manufacturing HQ in Somerset, but potential opportunities exist for secondments and international travel.

Entry Requirements

  1. Minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant degree as stated above
  2. Industry experience beneficial but not essential
  3. Tenacity, fresh thinking and enthusiasm
  4. Analytical Mind
  5. A strong team player
  6. Conscientious and keen to learn
  7. A keen interest in pursuing a career in the Aerospace industry
  8. Must have been a permanent UK resident for a minimum of the past five years in order to meet security requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about our graduate programme

For further enquiries about our helicopter graduate programme, please call us on 01935 702 897.

Virtual Air Tattoo 2020: Focus on Leonardo Helicopters

RIAT Virtual Air Tattoo goes behind the scenes at Yeovil to speak to MD Nick Whitney, two of our trainees and our Chief Test Pilot about their work and the exciting opportunities at Leonardo Helicopters.

Early Careers application process

Stage 1 – Application Form

The first stage of the application process is to complete the application form and upload your CV for the desired role you want to apply for.

Stage 2 – On-Demand Video & Game-based Assessments

online assessment screenshot

If you pass the Eligibility Questionnaire you will automatically be sent an invitation to complete the on-demand video interview and game-based assessments. 

Given the limited roles available and the large numbers of applications we are receiving, we strongly recommend that you complete the following two activities as soon as you receive confirmation of your eligibility.

On Demand Video Interview – You will be asked several competency-based questions, providing you with the opportunity to record a video of yourself answering each one. Some practice questions will get you comfortable with the process and the HireVue platform. Once you have completed the practice questions, you will begin the interview. 

Game-based Assessments – Once you have completed the Video interview, you will complete the game-based assessments, featuring two timed games that you will be scored on.

After completing both sections, you will receive an email thanking you and noting that you will hear from Leonardo soon. 

Stage 3 – Interview & Presentations

screenshot of an interview

If you are successful after the On-demand and Game-based Assessments, you will be contacted to arrange a live interview. During the live interview, you will be asked to complete a presentation which is relevant to the role.

Below is what you will see during the interview process, along with instructions on how to share your screen if you have a PowerPoint that you want to share as part of your presentation.

You will be presented with three options for sharing your screen:

  1. Your entire screen
  2. Application Window
  3. NW.js Tab.

Please click the Application window option and select the correct window to display your presentation.

Stage 4 – Offer

After the interview and presentation, we will provide all candidates with feedback. If you are successful in your application, the Leonardo recruitment team will subsequently contact you to formally offer you the role.

Our early careers opportunities starting in autumn 2023 will open in autumn 2022. Please note that our early careers roles attract a high volume of applicants that are screened on a first come first serve basis, so applications will be closed when each role is filled.

Early Career Opportunities within Leonardo

Early Career Opportunities within Leonardo

Download our Early Careers brochure for information about Leonardo's UK apprenticeships, graduate programme, industrial placements, summer placements and work experience opportunities.

Download Leonardo's Early Career Opportunities brochure