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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Graduate FPGA/Firmware Engineer - **Company:** Leonardo UK - **Location:** Edinburgh, UK - **Experience:** Starter - **Salary:** £34,000.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Clean Code Principles, Systems Engineering, Cyber Security, Computer Networks, Software Debugging, Digital Technology, Firmware, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Description Language, Hardware Design, VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL), Real Time Systems, Fpga Hardware - **Published:** October 26, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=2c212123940a01c9 ## About the Role We are looking for graduates who are enthusiastic about FPGA design and eager to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. * Minimum of a 2:2 Bachelor's Integrated Master's degree, or higher degree (MSc or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related discipline. * For the Graduate FPGA / Firmware Engineering role, the preferred degrees are: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Information and Communication Engineering, Computer Communication and Networks, Cyber Security, Mathematics, Communications Engineering * A strong interest in Firmware and FPGA development. Basic familiarity with hardware description languages (HDLs) such as VHDL is desirable but not required as training will be provided * Strong problem-solving abilities, with excellent communication skills and a desire to work collaboratively in a team. A proactive approach to learning new technologies is crucial 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. ## Description Our 18-month Graduate Programme gives you the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging projects alongside subject matter experts. 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. You will be expected to spend at least three or four days each week on site, to integrate with your team and maximise your learning experience by designing, testing and integrating code and hardware on the Edinburgh or Newcastle site. During the programme, you will: * Be encouraged to gain experience of all aspects of the development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, integration, applied research and test. * Closely liaise with engineers from other disciplines, such as Systems, Software and Mechanical. Opportunities may also arise to interface with customers and end users. As a Graduate FPGA/Firmware Engineer you will: * Work on the design, development, and verification of firmware and digital systems using FPGAs, which are central to our advanced electronic systems * Collaborate on the development of high-performance digital signal processing solutions and real-time systems for a variety of avionic sensor systems * Learn to write efficient, reliable, and maintainable code using hardware description languages (HDLs) such as VHDL * Gain experience in simulation, debugging, and testing your designs in laboratory environments, ensuring optimal performance in demanding environments, optimising firmware designs to improve performance, efficiency, and reliability * Design, implement, and verify FPGA firmware for complex embedded systems, ensuring adherence to performance and safety requirements * Document and present design solutions and progress to both technical and non-technical stakeholders * Collaborate with Software, Electronics and Systems engineers to ensure smooth integration of firmware components * Develop test plans and simulation environments to verify designs meet functional and timing requirements * Contribute to technical reviews. Your role may even take you across the UK or abroad for technical reviews. * Support continuous improvement initiatives for hardware design processes and methodologies, 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.