Job Description:
Your impact
Are you ready to make an impact and gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects from day one?
At
The programme will run fromst June to 28th August 2026.
We encourage you to spend at least three days each week on site to integrate with your team and maximise your learning experience.
At Leonardo
As a Summer Placement - Optics, you will:
1. Contribute directly to the development and delivery of Laser/Optical design, including lens design and optical ray tracing.
2. Performance modelling, including tolerancing and finite element modelling problem solving technical issues across the product lifecycle.
3. Hands on lab and integration work with solid-state lasers or fibre optics.
4. Verification testing and problem solving within complex assemblies.
5. Receive training in the technical skills which are tailored to the role and area of the business you are in, and the opportunity to gain wider business knowledge through various awareness sessions.
6. Be given opportunities to apply the technical and soft skills you have gained from your degree course to date in industry.
What you’ll bring
7. You should be working towards a master’s level degree, typically in Physics, although degrees in other physical sciences or engineering disciplines will be considered.
8. Relevant photonics experience, such as laboratory work, previous summer placements or internships.
9. Experience with technical writing and project planning.
10. Strong analytical, modelling skills and laboratory skills.
11. Evidence of successfully working in a team.
12. Enthusiasm for photonics and an interest in developing your skills.
13. Experience of modelling tools such as Zemax Optics Studio, Matlab, LabVIEW, and COMSOL (or equivalent) is desirable.
14. Ideally you be in your penultimate year.
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 benefits package that supports your wellbeing, learning and development, and work–life balance:
15. Time to recharge:Our employees are entitled 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays. As a Summer Placement student you will receive this allowance pro rata.
16. Secure your future: Award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution
17. 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)
18. Never stop learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn learning.
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 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