Graduate Opportunities

Leonardo's award-winning graduate programme develops promising young graduates into engineers and business professionals of the future.

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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.

Applications are now open for our graduate programme commencing in autumn 2020 at our English and Scottish sites.

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 are now closed for our graduate programme commencing in autumn 2020 at our Scottish and English sites, covering business support, engineering and manufacturing and supply chain. Details of applications for our Electronics, Defence and Security Systems graduate programme starting in autumn 2021 will be published in autumn 2020.

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

We usually hold Assessment Centres around the UK, as part of the application process. However, due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, assessments will now take place as video interviews. Candidates will be sent individual invitations via email or text with full details in due course.

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 are now closed for the helicopters graduate programme starting in autumn 2020 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

Minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor’s Degree 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