Hydrogen Systems Internship - Cryogenic

GKN; West of England; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting salary £24,500

Starting bonus £500

12-month placement

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is recruiting for a 12-month Year in Industry placement in Bristol to join the Hydrogen Systems team. You will work on flagship programmes, supporting cryogenic and hydrogen hardware development and hands-on shop floor builds.

As a student in Mechanical, Aerospace or Electrical Engineering (or related fields), you will gain exposure to test rigs, data analysis and engineering documentation, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to deliver hardware for next-generation aircraft.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in engineering or related field with strong analytical skills.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and test data.
• Willingness to work both in office and workshop environments.

Responsibilities

• Support design, development and maturation of cryogenic and hydrogen system hardware.
• Assist with prototype manufacture, assembly and integration activities.
• Provide hands-on support during shop floor builds and hardware development programmes.
• Assist with laboratory testing, rig commissioning and development trials.
• Analyse test results and support technical investigations and root cause activities.
• Support design reviews, trade studies and documentation.
• Generate and maintain engineering reports and test procedures.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineers to deliver hardware through build and test.

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Drawings interpretation

Office & workshop

Communication skills

Hands-on engineering

Shop floor builds

Education

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

Electrical engineering

Materials science

Physics

Tools

CAD

MathCAD

MATLAB

Job description

The internship will support the Hydrogen Systems team working on flagship programmes, H2FlyGHT and ICEFlight, which develop electrical and cryogenic power distribution technologies for zero-emissions flight. We are seeking talented candidates who want to gain exposure to the development of next generation aircraft.

Main Activities and Responsibilities

• Support the design, development and maturation of cryogenic and hydrogen system hardware.
• Work closely with engineers and technicians to support prototype manufacture, assembly and integration activities.
• Provide hands‑on support during shop floor builds and hardware development programmes.
• Assist with laboratory testing, rig commissioning and development trials.
• Analyse test results and support technical investigations and root cause activities.
• Support engineering assessments, trade studies and design reviews.
• Generate and maintain engineering documentation, test procedures, reports and presentations.
• Support troubleshooting of development hardware and test rigs.
• Collaborate with Systems, Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineers to deliver hardware through build and test.

What You'll Bring

• Studying towards a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical documentation and test data.
• Comfortable working in both office and workshop/laboratory environments.
• Good communication skills and ability to work within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Enthusiastic, hands‑on approach to engineering development and prototype build activities.
• Willingness to support both engineering design activities and shop floor hardware builds.
• Motivated and organised.

Desirable

• Interest in cryogenic systems, thermal management or aerospace systems.
• Understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics and related disciplines.
• Experience using CAD, MathCAD, MATLAB or similar engineering tools.
• Experience supporting prototype assembly, testing or laboratory activities.
• Understanding of manufacturing, fabrication or mechanical assembly processes.
• Experience analysing test data and presenting technical finding.
• A keen interest in Aerospace.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we're inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We're proud to play a part in protecting the world's democracies. And we're committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world's aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career., GKN Aerospace Global Technology Centre in Bristol is the company's flagship aerospace research and development hub, bringing together engineers, researchers and industry partners to develop next‑generation aircraft technologies, advanced manufacturing processes and sustainable aviation solutions. It plays a key role in innovations such as lightweight composite structures, electrification, hydrogen‑powered flight technologies and the decarbonisation of aerospace.

We are currently recruiting a number of Year in Industry internship opportunities at our Bristol GTC. As a Year in Industry student, you'll have the opportunity to work on real projects that contribute to the future of aerospace. You'll gain hands‑on experience, receive support from industry experts, and develop valuable skills that will accelerate your career. Our interns make a genuine impact from day one and are trusted to contribute to meaningful work across the business.

We'll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go? A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we've created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It's a culture that won us 'The Best Workplace Culture Award'. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work. We're also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know. We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.

Opportunity Details

We have an opportunity available for aspiring engineers to join our Hydrogen Systems team on a 12-month industrial placement for academic year 27/28. The expected start date is the end of August 2027. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in innovative aerospace projects, develop cutting‑edge technologies, and gain experience that could define your career. If you're a self‑starter looking for a varied and challenging placement, we want to hear from you! Here's what to look forward to when you join us:

• Starting salary of £24,500, plus a £500 starting bonus.
• Be part of a broad Year in Industry intern community.
• Work alongside world leading Technical Authorities and Fellows.
• Work at GKNs flagship Global Technology Centre in Bristol.
• Flexible working hours, including the ability to finish early on Fridays.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Opportunity to balance theoretical learning with practical hands‑on delivery.
• An industry leading pension scheme, 1.5x employee contribution (max 12%).
• Collaborative, dynamic working environment.