Associate

Compass; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Travel opportunities

Central London office

Job summary

Compass in London seeks an Associate for Aerospace & Defence Consulting to support strategy, market intelligence, and investment decisions across Europe. You will work with defence primes, private equity, and tech firms, conducting analysis and developing client materials.

The role offers responsibility from day one, exposure to senior decision-makers, and opportunities across strategy, M&A, and geopolitics with some remote work and on-site in London.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, International Relations, or related field.
• Relevant internship experience and/or up to two years of professional experience.
• Strong communication skills in English; other languages (German or French) advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Conducting market, competitive, and strategic analysis within defence and aerospace sectors.
• Supporting commercial due diligence, growth strategy, and M&A engagements.
• Developing client presentations, reports, and investment materials.
• Engaging with senior industry executives, investors, and subject-matter experts.
• Tracking developments in defence budgets, procurement, emerging technologies, and geopolitical trends.
• Contributing to business development initiatives and thought leadership.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Clear professional communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Project management

Prioritisation

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, International Relations, or related field

Job description

Required Qualifications & Experience

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with clients, senior stakeholders, and industry experts. Applicants need to hold a valid UK work visa.

Bachelor's or master’s degree, or equivalent experience, in Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, International Relations, or a related field.

Relevant internship experience and/or up to two years of professional experience would be expected, ideally in one of the following sectors:

• Management Consulting
• Investment Banking
• Private Equity
• Venture Capital
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a project-based advisory environment.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional language skills, particularly German or French, would be advantageous but are not essential.

Preferred Candidate Attributes

• Strong interest in geopolitics, defence and security affairs, aerospace, and emerging technologies.
• Ability to communicate and present work professionally in a client-facing advisory environment.
• Curiosity, intellectual rigour, and a willingness to take ownership of workstreams.
• International mindset and an interest in European and global defence markets.

Position Description

Associate – Aerospace & Defence Consulting (London, UK)

Join one of the leading boutique advisory firms for Aerospace, Defence, and Security markets.

Based in London, this role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy, M&A, market intelligence, defence technology, and geopolitics. You will support leading defence primes, private equity investors, venture capital firms, and innovative technology companies across Europe in their strategy development and investment decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting market, competitive, and strategic analysis within the defence and aerospace sectors.
• Supporting commercial due diligence, growth strategy, and M&A engagements.
• Developing client presentations, reports, and investment materials.
• Engaging with senior industry executives, investors, and subject-matter experts.
• Tracking developments in defence budgets, procurement programmes, emerging technologies, and geopolitical trends.
• Contributing to business development initiatives and thought leadership.

This role is ideal for candidates seeking more responsibilities early-on in a small but growing management consulting company.

Location: United Kingdom

Sector Focus: Aerospace & Defence

Experience Level: Significant internship experience and/or up to two years of relevant professional experience

Start Date: Flexible

The position offers significant responsibility from day one, direct exposure to senior decision-makers, and exceptional development opportunities within a growing firm that offers flexible working conditions and professional growth potential. Europe-wide travel to clients or project related events will be required 1-2 times each month. The role will have some flexibility for remote work, but the default requirement will be to work on-site in our central London offices.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and make recruitment decisions based on merit, skills, experience, and business need. All UK positions are managed and supported through our EOR provider in the UK. Applicants need to hold a valid UK workvisa. Please note that currently Compass cannot sponsor no work visas in the UK.