Graduate, Failure Analyst - Materials & Processes

Cooper & Hall Limited; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus in the United Kingdom invites graduates to join the Global Graduate development journey as Engineers, Failure Analysts in Materials and Processes. You will be part of a two-year program designed to cultivate your leadership potential while gaining hands-on experience in a critical domain.

During the program you will rotate through teams, apply failure analysis to metallics and composites, and participate in workshops that build technical knowledge and business acumen for a safe and united

Qualifications

• A degree (or equivalent) within Materials Science.
• Recent graduation or first professional experience in analytical tests and material characterization.
• Strong verbal and written communication in English.

Responsibilities

• Engage in a two-year development journey to become a Materials Failure Analyst within Materials and Processes.
• Investigate failure modes and materials for aircraft components, supporting designers and engineering teams.
• Rotate through cross-functional teams and participate in workshops to develop technical and leadership skills.

Skills

Communication

Education

Materials Science degree

Job description

Job Description:

Are you a university graduate with the aspiration, enthusiasm, and talent to help us pioneer sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world? Every year, Airbus seeks bright minds from around the globe to fill critical roles that will shape our future.

When you begin your career with us, we don’t just offer a job; we accelerate your growth through the Airbus Global Graduate development journey. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all program; it’s a personalized, two-year experience designed to cultivate your professional skills, enhance your business acumen, and hone your technical abilities. We place a strong emphasis on developing your leadership potential from day one. You’ll gain a unique perspective on the world of Airbus while contributing directly in a specific, impactful position.

During the two years, we will take you on a soft-skill development journey, covering such areas as inclusive leadership, our Values, resilience, communication, and emotional intelligence, with various in-person and virtual workshops.

Beyond your daily responsibilities and this comprehensive schedule of training, you’ll join your global graduate community annually for an in-person dedicated development week. This is your chance to connect with your peers, learn directly from our seasoned leaders, and gain insights from the best in the industry.

Throughout the program, you will be developed into an established and valuable team member from day 1. You’ll sharpen your skills in an area strategically important to Airbus, gaining a deep understanding of our business - its opportunities, challenges, and needs. Most importantly, you’ll have learned more about yourself and what makes you truly great. You will have demonstrated your capability and readiness to take on future leadership challenges within Airbus.

Above all, you’ll have the unparalleled opportunity to do your best work in an industry that is literally reshaping how we live in our world.

What you will be doing

You will be on a development journey to guide your growth into the role of Engineer, Failure Analyst - within the domain of Materials and Processes (M&P). You can expect to be involved in the following:

Typical work:

As a Failure Analyst, you will apply your skills to continuously improve our existing materials whilst having the exciting opportunity to influence the material selection choices for our next generation of commercial aircraft. You will investigate parts and materials from our in-service aircraft, from production and certification test programs and you will work with materials experts to ensure robust investigation conclusion and feedback to designers, stress teams, airworthiness, and program chief engineering authority.

More in detail:

You will investigate failure modes and mechanisms of metallics, composites, surface protection systems and present evidence-based data and conclusions. Your position within the M&P Airframe community will offer a unique discovery and appreciation of these materials and how they are used and how they perform throughout the entire aircraft and across the full Airbus portfolio. No two days as a Failure Analyst are identical, you will be developed and challenged in your daily work, supported in your personal development journey by a motivated and talented team of engineers who share the same enthusiasm and ambition for pioneering sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.

Tools / technologies learned:

You will be based in the world class, state of the art - Aerospace Integrated Research & Test Centre (AIRTeC) where you will have at your disposal an extensive range of advanced material testing and analytical capabilities which you will learn and utilize during the course of your investigations.

Graduate learning outcomes:

You will develop deep technical knowledge of failure analysis principles and techniques including when and how to apply them for your given investigation. You will discover an appreciation of why certain materials are selected for different applications within the aircraft and crucially you will learn about limitations and factors that have an effect on performance and behavior.

Rotational placement activity:

Your development journey will include a minimum of one rotational placement to support your growth into position. At the end of the two-year development program, you will have developed into the position of Materials Failure Analyst! This core rotational placement alongside cross-functional engineering partners—such as Stress, Design, Chief Engineering, or Airworthiness teams will expand your operational business context.

What we are looking for

To be a successful applicant, you will need to demonstrate you have:

• A degree (or equivalent) within Materials Science
• Recent graduation or first professional experience performing analytical tests and material characterization within a laboratory setting.
• Strong verbal and written communication in our business language (English).
• A desire to work in a collaborative team environment, focused on driving future innovation.
• The ability to be self-aware and a wish to be in the driving seat of your development.

Statement: This position requires a security clearance or will require being eligible for clearance by the recognized authorities. You must also have (or will have) the right to work in the country of the position you are applying for.

Please note, we are unable to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this position. We welcome applications from candidates with existing right to work in the UK or those eligible via other routes (e.g., Graduate Visa, Youth Mobility Scheme).

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments. Examples of this may include (but are not exclusive to) accessible facilities and additional time for written exercises etc. 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.

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.

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.