Job Description:

Start date: September 2025

Location: Airbus Defence & Space Portsmouth

Duration: 4 years

University: University of Chichester

Degree: BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Application closing date: We encourage you to apply early to avoid missing out on this opportunity! Please note we will close adverts as soon as we receive sufficient applications.

Benefits:

Salary: 20,200

37 hours per week // Half day Fridays!* // 25 days holiday plus bank holidays // Pension // Success share // Plus many more flexible benefits!

*subject to completing full hours prior to this*

About us:

Our Manufacturing Engineering team are the function which works with Engineering and Design and turns this into a Manufacturing Process ready for Operations to Build and Assemble the Payload. We drive to implement design for manufacture to ensure our product can be built safely and efficiently. We have preparation phases where we plan and prepare all activities ready before the Assembly starts. Plus we have an Operational phase where we support Operations with any support during the Assembly to ensure delivery of the product safely, on time and to an exceptional standard of quality. Working within a team of 12 -20 Engineers we support approximately 60-70 shop floor staff.

What you will be doing:

You will be working within the Airbus Spacecraft Production team as a Manufacturing Engineer (ME)! Launch an exciting career by joining our Airbus Apprenticeship Programme! Our Apprentices receive second to none training, gaining the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to enable you to make an immediate contribution when you enter the workforce.

You will study towards a BEng Mechanical Engineering degree. The course is intended to equip graduates with a relevant range of engineering skills related to manufacturing engineering.

The course duration is four years, with day release at University with the remaining days spent respectively applying your knowledge as part of the Airbus Spacecraft Production team.

Initially whilst ‘in the office’, you will primarily support the Manufacturing Engineering team, as a support process engineer. Manufacturing Engineering is a team dedicated to the mechanical support of assembly operations and the hub of spacecraft manufacturing innovation in the UK. As a support process engineer you will learn the engineering competencies necessary to support manufacture and use the experience developed in operations, to improve technical processes. You will also be involved in the resolution of shopfloor non-quality, working as part of a team to develop solutions to complex engineering problems.

You will also undertake a number of other placements around the site to develop your understanding of the business and to develop you into a well rounded engineer. For example, you will spend some time as an assembly technician within our world class Spacecraft Production operations team, getting hands-on with the build of Airbus’s satellites. This will give you a solid foundation in understanding how telecommunications satellites are built and will give you the opportunity to develop a strong relationship with our operations team. You will be provided with two weeks of technical training prior to this placement, to give you the specific skills required to be a competent technician.

You will also spend time with placements that the Assembly Engineering team collaborate most closely with. The departments are:

• Spacecraft Production Quality Assurance;

• Spacecraft Production Test Processes;

• Spacecraft Production Planning.

You will learn the methods of these teams and gain an understanding of their important relationships with the Manufacturing Engineering team. 

Finally you will become a trainee ME, working to influence the production processes and philosophies, to improve spacecraft assembly efficiency. Your role will be to optimise production to improve cost / schedule efficiency and reduce non-quality. You will be at the forefront of Research and Development (R&D) and have the opportunity to pioneer spacecraft production methodologies. 

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship and university course, you will continue in Manufacturing Engineering as a qualified Manufacturing Engineer.

You will be allocated a ‘buddy’ to guide you through the year and answer any questions you may have.

Requirements:

In order to be eligible to this apprenticeship, you must have a minimum of:

• 3 A Levels at grade C or above which must include Mathematics and preferably a technology subject

OR

• BTEC vocational qualification at Level 3 or Level 3 apprenticeship

AND

• A minimum of 5 GCSE’s at 4/C or above which must include English Language and Mathematics.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:

• A keen interest in the space industry and a basic knowledge of spacecraft design;

• Basic knowledge of manufacturing systems and processes;

• Basic knowledge of mechanical, electrical and RF principles;

• Good mathematical and statistical analysis competencies;

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Nice to have relevant work experience;

• Good written and verbal communication skills;

• Submit your CV stating your grades and if they are predicted or achieved;

• Submit a Cover Letter stating your motivations.

Important Information:

GRADES: If you are on predicted grades, your offer will be conditional to achieving the position’s requirements before the apprenticeship start date.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: Eligibility to gain UK SC Security Clearance OR You will be subject to a BPSS check (including a criminal record check).

Our apprenticeship roles do not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas & Immigration to enable sponsorship of migrant workers.

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 via email apprentices&64;airbus.com​. ​ ​Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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.

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom&64;airbus.com.

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.