Graduate Firmware Engineer

This is a 18-month Graduate Programme designed to accelerate your development into a professional engineer. You will contribute to real projects from day one, work alongside industry experts, and gain hands-on experience across the full firmware development lifecycle.

The role is based in Luton with flexible and hybrid working arrangements available. Occasional travel within the UK and overseas may be required.

What You'll Do

As part of the Firmware Engineering team, you will support the development of high-performance digital systems for Electronic Warfare solutions. Your activities will include:

• Designing and developing FPGA firmware solutions for complex embedded and real-time systems.
• Creating and verifying designs using hardware description languages and industry-standard development tools.
• Supporting the development of digital processing technologies for Electronic Warfare and sensing applications.
• Conducting simulation, testing and validation activities to ensure firmware meets requirements.
• Analysing technical data and presenting findings.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to integrate firmware solutions.
• Contributing to technical documentation, design reviews and customer deliverables.
• Developing an understanding of the complete engineering lifecycle.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for curious, motivated graduates with a passion for engineering, problem-solving, and technology.

You should have, or be on track to achieve:

• A minimum 2:2 Bachelor's degree, Integrated Master's degree, MSc or PhD in a relevant STEM discipline, such as:
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Robotics Engineering
  • AI & Cybernetics
  • Communications Engineering
  • Information Engineering
  • Space Engineering
  • Physics or Applied Physics
  • Mathematics or Applied Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Cyber Security
  • Computer Communication and Networks
  • Related disciplines

We'd also like to see:

• An interest in firmware development, FPGA design, embedded systems or digital signal processing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and effectively.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to learn.
• Experience of programming, simulation, digital design or laboratory-based testing (desirable, not essential).
• Familiarity with hardware description languages (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog) or FPGA development tools (beneficial but not essential).

Our Graduate Programme

The programme is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become a future engineering leader. You'll benefit from:

• Structured professional development and technical training.
• Support from experienced engineers, mentors, and the graduate community.
• Opportunities to work on meaningful projects with real customer impact.
• Development towards professional registration.
• Exposure to a wide range of technologies, products, and engineering disciplines.
• Networking opportunities across Leonardo's UK business.

Security Clearance

Many roles are subject to security and export control restrictions. Successful applicants will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record declaration, and employment/education history verification for the previous five years. For more sensitive posts, additional National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, which generally requires continuous residency in the UK for the previous five years (or ten for DV clearance).