Summer Placement Mechanical Engineer

Your impact

Are you ready to make an impact and gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects from day one? 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 extraordinary—shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

The role requires an enthusiastic individual who has a passion for overcoming technical challenges. As a Mechanical Summer Placement you will form part of a multi-discipline Team of Engineers undertaking the collective objective of advancing our World leading products in the Defence domain.

The 13-week Summer Placement Programme

We have created a programme across our UK sites that not only increases your technical skills, but gives you the opportunity to work on meaningful real life projects, alongside experienced engineers and graduates across our business.

You will receive coaching and support to achieve your personal goals and work in multidisciplinary teams to gain as much experience across the product lifecycle from your time in industry as possible.  Our ultimate aim is to see you through your undergrad years and successful placements will result in an offer to return for further placements or for an offer on our Graduate Development programme.

The programme will run from June- August 2027We 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 Mechanical Engineer:

• Acquiring the skills required to work effectively within a Professional Engineering environment.
• Supporting members of the Mechanical Engineering Team in the delivery of technical solutions that meet our Customer needs.
• Creating and presenting design data to the appropriate Departmental ‘Best Practices’ and utilising industry leading tool sets.
• Delivering detailed designs; including numerical calculations, tolerance studies, etc.
• Producing Manufacturing Data Packs in line with BS8888, including appropriate use of GD&T.
• Generating piece parts, assemblies and mechanisms within the constraints defined by the Mechanical Lead.
• Working to meet Cost, Schedule and Quality demands.

What you’ll bring

Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

• Currently undertaking a minimum of a Bachelor's level degree Mechanical Engineering (or similar field)
• Be a self-motivated individual, willing to take on new challenges and drive continuous personal development
• Strong communication skills across a variety of mediums i.e. written, verbal, digital, etc.
• The ability to develop effective working relationships with peers and stakeholders
• Adaptable to the ever changing demands that will be encountered within the role
• Offer novel ideas and methods for solving technical problems, drawing on personal experiences and knowledge learned during academic studies
• Demonstrate relevant project work and/or placements in Industry are beneficial, but not essential

Role Requirements

• All of our Summer Placement roles require you to be currently studying a relevant degree discipline such as Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or other STEM subject degrees

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. 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: 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: 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.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.

Security Clearance

Many of our roles are subject to security requirements and, where applicable, export control restrictions arising from UK Government requirements and customer obligations 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.

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