Software Graduate Apprentice

The Opportunity

Leonardo offers a range of Apprenticeships from 2-4yrs. across a variety of STEM and business routes, offering paid training, coupled with on the job learning that enables you to gain practical skills, experience and knowledge that sets up the best start to your career. We offer competitive entry salaries and fully support your academic learning through to qualifications, with salary increases as you progress.

Whether leaving School or College or in work and looking for a new career path, you are fully supported as you rotate within the business working on real-time projects alongside highly skilled professionals who are passionate about their work. We support helping you settle in to your new location ensuring you are familiar with the team and have a warm welcome from day 1. There is a member of our Apprentice team at each site, helping you progress, ensuring your study time is protected, enabling access to digital learning as well as opportunities to get involved with the local community and STEM projects, enhance many aspects of each programme.

How this role fits in

Leonardo’s four-year Software Engineering Apprenticeship scheme at Edinburgh (leading to Graduate Level) is looking for people who understand the importance of communication, who are able to work well as part of a team and also on their own initiative. You will have the drive and commitment to work through difficult problems to find the right engineering solutions. You will study for completion of a BSc (Hons) in Software Development for Business through a mixture of work based learning and day release at University. You will gain the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer as part of the way to gaining Chartered Engineer status.

Role description

You will learn to programme and how to design, integrate and test high-integrity software through a combination of University teaching and work-based learning. You will be given experience of all stages of the software development lifecycle and an awareness of other engineering departments who support the software engineers. Subjects will include hardware-software interface, data communication, networking and security, software configuration and release management; and subjects in business, personal skills and project management.

You must be interested in IT and have a technical aptitude in software development, maybe gained through a hobby, designing an App/website or through programming. At the end of the programme, you will work as a highly qualified member of our Software community developing software for technically advanced avionics systems such as the radar for the Typhoon jet.

The starting salary for this role is £21,525

During your Apprenticeship we encourage you to spend at least 3/4 days a week on site to integrate with your team and maximise your learning experience.

Who would suit this role?

Leonardo values people that look to always develop throughout their career and along with an eager willingness to learn, a successful apprenticeship with Leonardo involves a drive to deliver results, sometimes from your own initiative, a patience for problem solving, as well as a need to comply with safety instructions and clear process compliance at all times. We view commitment to the programme and learning objectives very highly.

Qualifications:

You must have (as a minimum) the following qualifications:

5 Higher Grades (or equivalent): BBBBC

Mandatory: Mathematics Preferably including Physics and Computing

AND

National 5: (A-C) in English (or equivalent qualifications to Highers / Standard Grades).

Note:

• This Apprenticeship assumes the candidate has very little software knowledge and is NOT suitable for candidates who already have a computing or software degree.

• SAAS funding from English apprentices moving to Scotland must have residency in Scotland before 1st August 2026.

Key Responsibility Areas

During the teaching semesters, you will be required to attend University classes, seminars and labs on one day a week and, in addition, will be allowed another day to complete University projects and assignments.

Attendance at University classes is mandatory, and must be treated in the same way as any other working day.

You will

• Learn to design high integrity software and to program in C++

• Practice the full software lifecycle

• Attain a BSc (Hons) Software Development for Business degree

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit:

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:

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.

Be part of something bigger - apply now