Industrial Placement Firmware Engineer
Role Overview
Your impact
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 Industrial Placement students who want to be part of something extraordinary—shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.
Our placements are designed to help you apply your studies in a practical setting, develop your technical skills, and gain valuable insight into how our business operates.
Full Job Posting
What You'll Do
- As part of our Firmware Engineering team, you'll support the development of high-performance digital systems used within advanced Electronic Warfare solutions.
- Your activities will include:
- · Supporting the design and development of FPGA firmware solutions for embedded and real-time systems
- · Assisting with firmware verification and simulation activities
- · Using industry-standard development tools and hardware description languages
- · Supporting testing and validation activities to ensure designs meet performance requirements
- · Analysing technical data and presenting findings to engineering teams
- · Working closely with systems, software and hardware engineers to integrate firmware solutions
- · Contributing to technical documentation and design reviews
- Your Industrial Placement Project
- Approximately 50% of your placement will be dedicated to a cohort-led Industrial Placement project.
- Alongside fellow placement students, you'll help define, manage and deliver a substantial project over the course of your year placement. This is your opportunity to develop leadership, project management and stakeholder engagement skills while creating a meaningful business outcome.
- What We're Looking For
- You should be studying towards a degree in:
- · Electronic Engineering
- · Electrical Engineering
- · Computer Engineering
- · Robotics Engineering
- · AI & Cybernetics
- · Communications Engineering
- · Information Engineering
- · Computer Science
- · Physics or Applied Physics
- · Mathematics or Applied Mathematics
- · Cyber Security or related STEM disciplines
- We'd also like to see:
- · An interest in firmware development, FPGA design or embedded systems
- · Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- · Strong communication and teamwork skills
- · Exposure to programming, digital electronics or FPGA technologies through studies or personal projects
- The Placement Experience
- You'll benefit from:
- · Hands-on experience on real engineering projects
- · Mentoring from experienced engineers
- · Technical and professional skills development
- · A dedicated Industrial Placement cohort project
- · Exposure to multiple engineering disciplines and technologies
- · Opportunities to build your professional network across Leonardo
- 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.
- For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting
- Why join us
- At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do, our teams are 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.
- · Tailored perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
- For a full list of our company benefits please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/company-benefits
- 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.
- Start your extraordinary career – apply now!
- Primary Location:
- GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300
- Contract Type:
- Fixed term
- Hybrid Working:
- Hybrid
Qualifications
- · Electronic Engineering
- · Electrical Engineering
- · Computer Engineering
- · Robotics Engineering
- · AI & Cybernetics
- · Communications Engineering
- · Information Engineering
- · Computer Science
- · Physics or Applied Physics
- · Mathematics or Applied Mathematics
- · Cyber Security or related STEM disciplines
- · An interest in firmware development, FPGA design or embedded systems
- · Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- · Strong communication and teamwork skills
- · Exposure to programming, digital electronics or FPGA technologies through studies or personal projects
- The Placement Experience
- · Hands-on experience on real engineering projects
- · Mentoring from experienced engineers
- · Technical and professional skills development
- · A dedicated Industrial Placement cohort project
- · Exposure to multiple engineering disciplines and technologies
- · Opportunities to build your professional network across Leonardo
- 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.
- For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting
- Why join us
- At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do, our teams are 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.
- · Tailored perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
- For a full list of our company benefits please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/company-benefits
- 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.
- Start your extraordinary career – apply now!
- GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300
- Fixed term
- Hybrid
About Leonardo
Global aerospace, defense, and security industrial group.
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