Hydrogen Systems Internship - Cryogenic Placement 2027

GKN Aerospace company; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting salary £24,500

Starting bonus £500

28 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Pension scheme

Job summary

GKN Aerospace Global Technology Centre in Bristol offers a Year in Industry internship in a leading aerospace research hub. Join the Hydrogen Systems team to work on flagship programmes, gain hands-on experience, and contribute to zero-emission flight technologies. Start date August/September 2027 for a 12-month placement.

The role involves design, development, prototype builds, testing and documentation across multidisciplinary engineering teams, with supportive mentors and industry exposure.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or 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.
• 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.

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.

Skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Engineering drawings interpretation

Office and workshop environments

Communication

Hands-on engineering

Team collaboration

Willingness to support design & builds

Education

Degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Electrical Eng or related field

Tools

CAD

MathCAD

MATLAB

Job description

Job Summary

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.

Location: GKN Aerospace Global Technology Centre, Bristol, UK

Contract: 12-month industrial placement

Start Date: August/September 2027

What You'll Be Doing

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

If you’re working towards a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field, this is your chance to contribute to a future of zero-emission flight.

What we are looking for:

Essential

• 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.

What We'll Offer

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.

Kick‑start your career in aerospace and become part of GKN’s team.

What To Expect In The Selection Process

Throughout this process we try to utilise human interaction in the process as much as we can. Here’s what to expect:

• Apply online by completing our application form (closing date is Sunday the 29th of November).
• Successful candidates will be invited to take part in an online behavioural assessment. You will have 2 weeks to complete the assessment.
• Dependent on number of applications we may ask you to complete a video submission with pre‑provided questions.
• Shortlisted candidates with be invited to an Assessment Centre at the Global Technology Centre in Bristol, on Tuesday the 9th of February 2027. This is where you will get the chance to meet the team and showcase your skills and potential.
• For successful candidates your journey with us will commence late August 2027, as part of our Global Technology Centre Year in Industry Intern Programme.

Please note that GKN Aerospace reserves the right to change this process if we feel it will benefit our hiring process. This will be communicated to any relevant candidates as necessary.

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.