Graduate Systems Engineer

Job Description:

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 bigger—shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. 

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

​Systems Engineers are involved in all aspects of design and development; from initial product design through to in-service support.

They look at the big picture, determine how the system needs to operate and collaborate to produce the required overall operational behaviours. They also dive into the deepest level of detail – taking the system piece-by-piece and defining its design to the finest point. Our Systems Engineers can also actively engage in R&D, developing new concepts and conducting fundamental research into our future technologies.

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. 

During the programme, you will:  

• Work on real engineering problems and have the opportunity to be involved in supporting a wide range of tasks across multiple projects/products, which covers Sea, Land, Air and space domains.
• Be part of a dynamic and innovative team who will provide day-to-day guidance and on-the-job training, introducing you to systems engineering processes, methods, technology and tools.
• Receive targeted training, developing the engineering skills and necessary domain knowledge required to achieve technical excellence and be a successful Systems Engineer.

What you’ll bring 

All of our Graduate roles require (a) a minimum of an lower Second class Bachelors/Integrated Master’s degree, or (b) a higher degree, such as an MSc or PhD. In all cases the subject should be engineering, mathematics, physics or another STEM discipline.

In addition to this, we would be interested in hearing from you if you have experience in:

• Coding/programming.
• Relevant project work and/or placements in industry.
• Solving problems as part of a team
• Applying your science and technology knowledge to solve a real world problem

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, 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. 

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 - Southampton

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid