Key Takeaways
- Gain hands-on experience as a Mechanical Engineer on real-world projects.
- Placement runs from June to August 2027.
- Requires a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or a similar field.
- Hybrid working with a requirement to be on-site at least three days a week.
- Based in Basildon.
About the Role
This is a full-time, fixed-term Summer Placement role for a Mechanical Engineer.
Your Impact
Gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects from day one. Leonardo is looking for Summer Placement students to be part of 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.
The role requires an enthusiastic individual with a passion for overcoming technical challenges. As a Mechanical Summer Placement, you will be part of a multi-discipline team of engineers working to advance world-leading products in the Defence domain.
The Summer Placement Programme
This programme runs across our UK sites and aims to increase your technical skills while offering the opportunity to work on meaningful real-life projects alongside experienced engineers and graduates.
You will receive coaching and support to achieve your personal goals and work in multidisciplinary teams to gain experience across the product lifecycle.
Successful placements may result in an offer to return for further placements or for our Graduate Development programme.
Duration: June - August 2027 Location: GB - Basildon Working Pattern: Hybrid, with at least three days each week on site recommended.
What you’ll do as a Summer Placement Mechanical Engineer:
- Acquire the skills required to work effectively within a Professional Engineering environment.
- Support the Mechanical Engineering Team in delivering technical solutions that meet customer needs.
- Create and present design data using industry-leading toolsets, adhering to departmental best practices.
- Deliver detailed designs, including numerical calculations and tolerance studies.
- Produce Manufacturing Data Packs in line with BS8888, including appropriate use of GD&T.
- Generate piece parts, assemblies, and mechanisms within defined constraints.
- Work to meet Cost, Schedule, and Quality demands.
What we need from you:
- Currently undertaking a minimum of a Bachelors level degree in Mechanical Engineering or a similar field.
- Be self-motivated, willing to take on new challenges, and drive continuous personal development.
- Strong communication skills (written, verbal, digital).
- Ability to develop effective working relationships with peers and stakeholders.
- Adaptable to changing demands.
- Offer novel ideas and methods for solving technical problems.
- Relevant project work and/or placements in industry are beneficial, but not essential.
Security Clearance
Many roles at Leonardo 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. Additional vetting may apply for more sensitive posts, potentially requiring continuous residency in the UK for five or ten years.
Benefits
- 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for placement students).
- Award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led inclusion networks.
- Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn learning.