ELI - Flight Testing Engineering Stage

Leonardo is an international industrial group and one of the world's leading companies in the Aerospace, Defence, and Security sectors, delivering multi-domain technological capabilities in the fields of Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cyber Security, and Space. With more than 60,000 employees worldwide, the company has a strong industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, and the United States, and operates in 150 countries through subsidiaries, joint ventures, and equity investments. A key player in major strategic programs at the global level, Leonardo is a technology and industrial partner to governments, defence administrations, institutions, and businesses.

Role overview

The function of Flight Test Operations is responsible to conduct experimental flight test for development and qualification helicopters both in civil and in military environment. The methods and the processes to conduct the flight tests are also developed by flight test operation office. The proposed internship is specifically addressed to bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering students and it is intended to be carried out as part of a final thesis project (Bachelor’s thesis). As a Bachelor’s thesis intern within Flight Test Operations military flight test team, the candidate will support the development of a standard general method to be used for the ship helicopter operation qualification. The method is divided into three main phases: Tests in simulation environment to define a candidate flight envelop (CFE); Verification of the simulated achieved candidate flight envelop over the land; Final spot check on a real ship. The candidate have to assure the presence at Leonardo Helicopter Cascina Costa Plant for at least two or three days per week for a total of 225hours.

Objectives

The main objective of the internship is to develop and to describe a standard flight tests methodology to qualify the ship-helicopter operation in terms of take off and landing.

Description of the methodology used for simulation phase to achieve the candidate flight envelop

Description of the methodology used for the check of the Candidate Flight Envelop over land (ex.runway)

Description of the methodology to define the test point to be check on a real ship to validate and to improve the simulation model

Keys Activities

• Description methodology and definition of the needs necessary for the simulation phase (general helicopter requirements and peculiar requirements for each helicopter).
• Participation to the simulation phases together with the flight crew, where applicable.
• Description of the methodology and definition of the needs necessary for the CFE test and validation over the land.
• Description and definition of the needs and the methodology to define the test points to be check in a real ship environment to validate the model.

Candidate Profile

Required Skills and Competencies: Solid analytical and problem-solving capabilities; Strong interest flight test engineering; Ability to work effectively in a team and in a structured engineering environment.

Education and Requirements: Ongoing Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering; Availability to carry out the internship as a Bachelor’s thesis project; Academic background Helicopter systems; Good command of English (written and spoken).

WHAT WE OFFER

• Working arrangement: Hybrid monthly expense reimbursement: 800euro
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities, including both technical and soft skills
• Well-being: We place the economic, physical, social, and psychological well-being of our people first, offering a variety of solutions tailored to their needs.

The company reserves the right to assess the appropriate employment level and compensation package based on objective criteria emerging during the selection process and in line with the seniority of the selected candidate and the position itself, in accordance with the principles of fairness, transparency, and equal opportunities established by applicable legislation.

Job Details

Senior: Primary Location: IT - Varese - Cascina Costa; Additional Locations: Contract Type: Hybrid; Working: International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo. The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know-how across the generations.