Rolls-Royce
We’re committed to innovation and the continual pursuit of improvement. Rolls-Royce
Our Scholarships
Placement Location
Solihull
Type of Placements Offered
• 12-month placements only
Restrictions/Notes
(1) Requires 12-month placement for 2027/28; (2) Students must be in the penultimate year of their degree; (3) Open only to British citizens (no dual nationals); (4) Candidates required to undergo security clearance
Who we are and what we do
Rolls-Royce is a pre-eminent engineering company focused on world-class power and propulsion systems. One of the world’s most famous brands, we’re committed to innovation and the continual pursuit of improvement.
The Electronics and Electrical team are part of the Engineering Technology and Safety Capability, which is a centralised engineering group that provides expertise to all the Rolls-Royce divisions. From our state-of-the-art facility in Solihull, we design and manufacture safety critical controls for over 300 customers worldwide.
We provide a single solution for the design, manufacture, procurement, testing and support of high-integrity, harsh environment control systems, including safety critical software, electronic, electrical and hydro-mechanical products.
What you could be doing during your work placement
You will join a vibrant Complex Electronics team, working on both ASIC and FPGA, to develop the next generation digital electronic components that will be utilised in all future Rolls-Royce Electronic Control Units. You will have the opportunity to be involved in the whole of the life cycle (design, development, verification, testing and implementation).
Our facility in Solihull is a fantastic space for agile working, ideas sharing and innovation. You’ll join a team of experts who will share their experience and help you to discover more about this exciting technology.
We have opportunities for undergraduates interested in digital design and firmware.
Meet one of our Scholars
Name: Alex
Sponsor: Rolls-Royce
University: Aston University
Degree Course: MEng Electronic Engineering and Computer Science.
What appeals to you about electronics?
My interest in electronics started with building and upgrading my own PCs, which made me curious about what was actually happening inside the components I was putting together. That curiosity led me to study engineering, and during my degree I found myself most drawn to digital design. What appeals to me most is that electronics is constantly evolving, with new technology emerging all the time, so I believe a career in it is unlikely to become repetitive. My placement at Rolls-Royce reinforced this, as there was always something new to learn.
Why did you choose Rolls-Royce?
I was drawn to Rolls-Royce because it offered a placement working on FPGA and digital design, which had been my favourite area at university. Digital design is a highly sought after field, and placements offering hands-on experience in it are not easy to find. On top of that, Rolls-Royce’s reputation and the chance to learn from experienced engineers whose work powers aircraft all over the world made it an easy choice.
My placement
During my placement, I worked on VHDL designs for safety-critical aerospace motor drive systems, developed to DO-254 standards. This gave me a much deeper understanding of both digital design and how motor drives are controlled. Alongside the design work, I wrote formal reports and presented my work to the team. Working alongside experienced engineers showed me how hardware is developed in a real industrial setting, where every design decision has to be justified and documented. Applying the theory from my degree to real products was very rewarding, and I finished the year far more confident in my abilities as an engineer.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Outside of work, I enjoy creating my own electronics projects, as I have my own setup at home. It’s a great way to try out ideas that I don’t get the chance to explore at university or work, and to keep building my skills in my own time. When I want to switch off, I enjoy reading and playing games with friends, which is a nice way to relax while staying social.
And another
Name: Koshin
Sponsor: Rolls-Royce
University: University of York
Degree Course: MEng Electronic and Computer Engineering
Why did you choose Rolls-Royce?
I first heard about UKESF when I started applying to placements in second year. It seemed like a good opportunity as it narrows the applicant pool and would allow me to more easily meet my peers from all over the country. Thanks to my Digital circuit design module I found myself liking the process of designing a digital circuit, writing it with VHDL and seeing it working on an FPGA. Seeing an opportunity to work with this skillset at a company known for having great engineers to learn from allowed me to develop this interest in industry.
My placement
I was tasked with verifying the functionality of a daughterboard for an FPGA and, when it failed, to redo the design with the necessary changes. This taught me a lot about how to ensure that your design meets a specification so that it behaves as intended. The team was very welcoming and were always happy to answer any questions I had. It was very insightful to see how much more advanced processor design is in industry compared to the fundamentals I had learnt at university. Over the year I learnt a lot about industry tools and how to more effectively debug my code.
Advice for future UKESF Scholars
It can be quite overwhelming when joining any organisation, not helped by all the acronyms. I would recommend creating a dictionary of the acronyms you encounter at the back of your notebook as a quick reference. As for getting to know people, chatting to colleagues outside your team as you grab a cup of tea gives you a chance to understand more about how your team fits into the wider company. If you can, having lunch with people outside your team ensures your lunch break isn’t just about work!