Thermal Engineering Placement

Thermal Engineering Placement

Start date: 20 July 2026

Location: Stevenage

Duration: 12 months

Application: We love your interest in joining Airbus! There is no limit on the number of positions you can apply for, however, please be aware that you can only progress in the selection process for one position at a time. We recommend reviewing all available opportunities and applying to those that best match your experience and aspirations.

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Apply early to avoid missing out — we may close adverts once we receive sufficient applications.

Benefits:

Salary: £23,85037 hours per week // Flexible working hours // Half day Fridays!* // 25 days holiday plus bank holidays*subject to completing full hours prior to this

About us:

For over 50 years, Airbus has been helping to answer the big questions by peering into the infinite beyond and looking back at Planet Earth, like mapping every star in our galaxy or counting trees in Amazonia. With our cutting-edge capabilities and decades of experience, we have what it takes to design, develop, and operate major space systems.

The Thermal Analysis & Space Physics team is responsible for the analysis, development, and testing of spacecraft thermal control systems. We support a wide range of projects with applications including Telecommunications and Navigation, Earth Observation and Science, and Exploration. Our responsibilities span the full project lifecycle, from early conceptual design through to qualification and final delivery to the customer. We also lead a variety of interesting Space Physics activities, such as atomic oxygen fluence analysis, aerobraking simulation, and modelling thruster plume fluxes and more.

Our typical thermal engineering work involves defining the concept design in cooperation with project architects and designers. We then create a mathematical model to represent the system's thermal properties, which is used to evaluate the design and calculate its performance, and to enable detailed definition of the hardware elements. As a project progresses, the emphasis shifts from theoretical analysis to supporting the manufacturing and testing of the system.

In this role, an intern will support a selection of the work that our team undertakes across a range of missions. You will also have the opportunity to take ownership of several internal Process Improvement tasks with the support of a senior engineer.

What you will be doing:

• Broadening your knowledge and experience of thermal engineering, supporting analysis and testing campaigns for a range of exciting projects;
• Supporting a lead thermal engineer to build and maintain thermal models to customer requirements, to support sizing of the thermal control system and performing design trade-offs;
• Developing tools and analysis techniques to further improve the efficiency of the department;
• Gaining experience with using tools such as Microsoft Excel, Python, and a range of dedicated thermal and space physics software to perform engineering design and analysis.

Requirements:

Our placements are open to Undergraduates only.Therefore it is mandatory for candidates to be an undergraduate for the whole duration of the placement. Please inform your graduation date on your application.Your application should include a CV along with a Cover Letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the role.

• Ideally candidates would be undertaking a degree in one of the following areas (or similar): Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Design/CAD, IT.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:

• An interest in space is essential;
• Good problem solving and team working skills;
• Excellent presentation and written and verbal communication skills, including report writing;
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office.

Additional desirable skills for a candidate include:

• An ability to describe the thermal challenges faced by space missions and thermal management techniques available to ensure success;
• Experience of computational modelling and simulation;
• An advanced proficiency in Excel (ideally for the use of analysing results);
• Experience of programming; e.g. Python, Visual Basic.

SECURITY CLEARANCE:

You will be subject to a BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) check. You may also need to gain UK SC-level Security Clearance or Export Control, depending on the role.

Contact

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments to allow you to access and participate fully in the recruitment process. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.