Thermal Analysis & Space Physics Placement (12 months)

at  Airbus Defence and Space Limited

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Start date: 21st July 2025
Location: Stevenage
Duration : 12 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:

Whether we are peering into the infinite beyond or looking back at Planet Earth, mapping every star in our galaxy or counting trees in Amazonia, we have been helping to answer the big questions for over 50 years. With cutting-edge capabilities and decades of experience, Airbus has all that 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; supporting a range of projects with applications including Telecoms and Navigation, Earth Observation and Science, and Exploration. The responsibilities of the team typically span the full project life cycle from early conceptual design support through qualification and up to final delivery to the customer. In addition to undertaking thermal engineering activities, the team is leads a range of interesting Space Physics activities including atomic oxygen fluence analysis, aerobraking simulation, modelling thruster plume fluxes, and more.
Typically, the thermal engineering work of the department involves defining the concept design in cooperation with the project architects and designers, and creating a mathematical model representing the thermal properties of the system. The model is used to evaluate the design, through calculating the performance of the system, and to enable detailed definition of the hardware elements. In the latter part of a project lifetime, the emphasis moves from theoretical analysis to support-to-manufacture and test of the system.
The role for the intern is to support the varied work of the Thermal Analysis & Space Physics team across a range of missions. There will also be an opportunity to take ownership of several internal Process Improvement tasks with the support of a senior engineer.

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

During this internship, you will have the opportunity to support a range of activities such as:

• 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.