Spacecraft Engineering and Operations Placement

Spacecraft Engineering and Operations Placement

Start date: 20 July 2026

Location: Chippenham

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 // Hybrid working // Half day Fridays!* // 25 days holiday plus bank holidays*subject to completing full hours prior to this

About us:

Airbus Defence and Space is involved in numerous space projects, with a focus on geostationary communications satellites and low Earth orbit missions. Our primary role is the development of new space systems from an operations perspective and in-depth analysis (including recovery operations) of existing in-orbit spacecraft.

This is an excellent opportunity for a placement within the Secure Comms organisation, which sits in the Airbus Defence and Space Communications, Intelligence & Security (CIS) business line.

The Space Directorate is involved in a wide range of activities, offering an intern the chance to gain experience in various engineering departments, including:

• Space Engineering;
• Payload Engineering;
• Ground Engineering;
• Spacecraft Operations;
• Flight Dynamics.

What you will be doing:

Based at the Hawthorn site, the Space Directorate intern will have the opportunity to rotate through up to 5 assignments over a period of one year. The benefits of this approach for you are that you will:

• Gain experience in a variety of technical areas in the Space Directorate;
• Be exposed to different types of task in a given area (e.g., analysis of spacecraft/ground sub-systems, report writing, anomaly investigation);
• Gain an appreciation of the range of technical activities conducted in the company;
• Develop insight into where their future interests lie;
• Work in a quality company that promotes best practice and supports their professional development.

The assignments that will actually be offered will depend on the projects that are in progress at the time (and potentially the specific qualifications of the individual). The following are representative examples:

• Ultra High Frequency (UHF) sub-system analysis and future operation;
• Telemetry analysis and software development;
• Routine operations assessment and improvement;
• Recovery procedure writing and validation.

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.

• You must be studying towards a Science, Maths or Engineering degree;
• Must have an interest in Space;
• Be able to use varied software packages and preferably experience with Python;
• Good written and verbal skills;
• Must be a team player.

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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This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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.