Flight Physics Placement (12.5 months)

at  Airbus Operations Limited

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Start date: 18th August 2025
Location: Filton, Bristol
Duration: 12.5 months
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.

ABOUT US:

Flight Physics is responsible for the overall aircraft design activities across all the stages of aircraft development, from pre-design work to in-service support. The majority of Flight Physics activities are focused on aircraft programmes such as the A350XWB, A320neo and future aircraft research programmes, but there is also significant effort on R&T, capability/tool development and data science and as a result our work activities are varied and interesting. There are four departments in the UK covering a wide range of activities detailed below.

Flight Physics is an exciting department to work for in a number of ways:

• We get to impact the overall aircraft design before it gets broken into individual components for detailed analysis. This means we get to build an understanding of the impact top level inputs have on the aircraft design.
• We get a chance to work on challenging technical problems as well as project management and interfacing with customers and suppliers.

• Each team works on a number of different programmes from current developments to future aircraft and R&T, so you get to experience a diverse range of activities and work.Our teams are distributed across sites in France, Germany, India, Spain and the UK bringing a wide variety of cultures.

Our four different departments are:

• Flight Physics Capability and Strategy: Develop the diverse range of tools and capabilities used by Flight Physics and are looking at how to apply new technologies such as Design Space Exploration, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Analytics to our business.
• Mass Properties: Responsible for everything to do with the weight and balance of our aircraft and new products. Wide range of activities such as managing and tracking weight targets, supporting the definition of future aircraft from both a top level perspective and at component level, and supporting airlines from sales campaigns, through their customisation of the aircraft to the physical weighing of their aircraft before delivery.

• Aerodynamics: Responsible for designing the wing shape, developing the aircraft configuration and characterising the aerodynamic behaviour of the aircraft. Multiple techniques are used, including CFD calculations and wind tunnel testing, to achieve a design with the best possible performance.Loads & Aeroelastics: Generate the definition of the loads that the aircraft will experience on ground and in flight at the most extreme conditions that could be encountered, which are then used to design the airframe, landing gear and systems.

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.

EXPERIENCE LEVEL:

Student

Interns make a significant contribution to Flight Physics. You will be given responsibility and ownership of your tasks during your internship, doing real and challenging work within your team and experiencing a wide range of technical topics. A typical internship will consist of a main project that runs for the length of the placement, with additional shorter tasks alongside to give exposure to other subjects.
You will be allocated to one of the Flight Physics departments (Aircraft Aerodynamics, Component Aerodynamics, Wind Tunnel, Component Loads and Aeroelastics, Flight & Ground Loads and Aeroelastics, Mass Properties or Flight Physics Capabilities & Strategy) based on your performance at our assessment centre and your application, however we will also try to take any personal preferences into account. The placement will be varied and require you to use and develop different skills (technical, project management, communication etc.) in order to complete your activities successfully.