Graduate Project Leader

Project Management, Business, Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical.

Your Impact

Are you ready to launch your career and make an impact on real-world projects from day one?

At Leonardo, we’re looking for graduates who want to be part of something extraordinary - shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

Life outside work
Daniel describes Leonardo's sports clubs, with one running most days, from padel to football and badminton, plus charity nights and fantasy football leagues. Charlotte adds that each graduate cohort has grad reps who organise socials, and that there is plenty more to get involved in.
To watch the full Gradcracker/Leonardo webinar, click here.

We are committed to developing our graduates into leading technical or business professionals, and as such we will also support you through your preferred route for professional development.

Our 12-month Graduate Programmes give you the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging projects alongside subject matter experts.

On joining, you will receive a starting salary of £34,000 per annum, plus a £1,000 welcome bonus. You’ll also be eligible for a £1,000 exit bonus upon successful completion of the programme. In addition, you may be eligible for a Temporary Accommodation Allowance (TAA), subject to specific criteria.

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 Graduate Project Leader you will…

  • Join a team with a portfolio of world class Surveillance radars.  Our Osprey and Seaspray radars are being operated around the world by a multitude of customers on a variety of platforms
  • Learn the business, products and project management discipline through a rotation basis, moving around three areas including live contracts and our new product development
  • Work within a multi-disciplinary and functional team
  • Build understanding and work towards taking responsibility for successful delivery of compliant projects in line with contractual and legislative requirements
  • Build understanding and work towards taking responsibility for cost, schedule and quality management across projects
  • Build understanding and work towards taking responsibility for risk management within projects – including risk identification, classification and mitigation
  • Develop effective communication to proactively encourage project delivery
  • Build understanding and input into business winning activities, working with the Business Winning team
  • Input into project reviews and business governance activities

Who you will bring:

Entry Requirements: 

  • A minimum of a 2:2 Bachelor’s/Integrated Master’s degree, or higher degree, such as MSc or PhD.

For this role, all degree backgrounds are considered with relevant experience. Examples of acceptable degrees include but are not limited to:

  • Business Management
  • Engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on Engineering Management

Enthusiasm and organisation

  • The ability to embrace and work to tight timescales
  • Team player and with the natural ability to support others and seek support

Security Clearance

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.

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, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

  • Time to recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
  • Secure your future: Benefit from our 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 (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
  • Rewarding performance: All employees are eligible for our bonus scheme.
  • Join in our success: Our annual Employee Stock Ownership Plan provides you the opportunity to own shares in Leonardo.
  • Tailored perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.

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 our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something extraordinary - apply now!

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Job ID Number: R0034962
Can I use AI to apply?

It is easily detectable when AI is being used in the process and this isn’t favoured as we want to learn about your authentic self. Our Early Careers Team and Hiring Managers review applications received and there is no AI algorithms involved in candidate selection. 

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Shortlisted
  • Deadline
    Ongoing
  • Salary
    £34,000 plus a £1,000 welcome bonus + benefits
  • Degree required
    2:2 and above
  • Location
    Edinburgh
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Disciplines Accepted...
  • Aerospace
  • Business
  • Electronic/Electrical
  • Mechanical
  • Project Management
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