Radio Frequency (RF) Test System Engineering Placement (12 months)

Airbus; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £24,500

37 hours per week

Flexible working hours

Hybrid working options

Half day Fridays

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Job summary

Airbus Defence and Space Limited in Portsmouth offers an undergraduate internship in Satellite Payload Test within RF and electrical testing teams. You will contribute to payload test campaigns across live projects, gaining hands-on experience in test systems, software, and hardware integration.

Responsibilities include assisting design, validation, and deployment of test systems, writing test system software, and collaborating with systems engineering to investigate and support live tests while

Qualifications

• Undergraduates only for the whole duration of the placement.
• Currently studying towards an Engineering, Science, or Production based degree.
• Have a basic knowledge of LabVIEW and/or Java, and basic knowledge of Agile/Sprint methodologies.
• Communication skills, teamwork, presentation skills, and you are proactive and not afraid to speak up or ask questions.

Responsibilities

• During this internship, you will support Satellite Payload Test functions and contribute to payload test campaigns across multiple live projects.
• Design and procurement of new test system hardware.
• Initial assembly, validation and commissioning of new test system hardware.
• Writing of new test system software.
• Supporting investigations with the systems engineering team.
• Test System parametric data generation and validation.
• Test System test code validation.
• Test System calibration and deployment to the cleanroom.
• Test System emulation of parametric data.
• Test System support of live test campaigns and investigations.

Skills

LabVIEW

Java

Communication

Teamwork

Presentation skills

Agile/Sprint

Education

Engineering, Science, or Production degree (undergraduate)

Tools

LabVIEW

Java

Job description

Start date: 19 July 2027 | Location: Portsmouth | Duration: 12 months | Applications close on 27 September 2026.

AI Guidance: We know you might be thinking about using AI to help you in your application - before you do, please read our guidelines on the use of AI for recruitment at Airbus https://www.airbus.com/en/careers/faqs#using-ai-in-your-application.

Benefits

• Salary: £24,500
• 37 hours per week
• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid working options available depending on the role
• Half day Fridays!*
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays *subject to completing full hours prior to this

About us

The Payload Prepare for Test team works on the electrical and RF testing of telecommunication satellite spacecraft products, specifically on the NEO and the new OneSat platforms. Our team is composed of RF validation, hardware, and software engineers who collaborate to deliver our test solutions in the following areas:

Test System Development

Interpreting test requirements to develop new test systems and test types in line with project needs and to satisfy the validation and system team; Forward looking group anticipating future needs and obsolescence to deliver world class RF and Electrical payload check out systems; Continually looking to improve testing through innovation and new technologies.

Test Deployment

On time validation and deployment of our test assets to project / operations; Providing on the ground and first line support to spacecraft production operations; Ownership of first closure Non-Quality (NQ) resolution related to test systems.

RF Engineering and Validation

Customer facing team liaising directly with external and internal customers to ensure we deliver against testing requirements and expectations; Governance of test processes related to operations and preparation; Providing test inputs to production schedules and management of live test phases; Validation of test system and payload results to ensure compliance with requirements.

What you will be doing

During this internship, you will support Satellite Payload Test functions detailed above and contribute to the successful delivery of payload test campaigns across multiple live projects. Typical activities include:

Typical Activities

• Design and procurement of new test system hardware
• Initial assembly, validation and commissioning of new test system hardware
• Writing of new test system software
• Supporting investigations with the systems engineering team
• Test System parametric data generation and validation
• Test System test code validation
• Test System calibration and deployment to the cleanroom
• Test System emulation of parametric data
• Test System support of live test campaigns and investigations

Requirements

• Undergraduates only. Therefore it is mandatory for candidates to be an undergraduate for the whole duration of the placement.
• Currently studying towards an Engineering, Science, or Production based degree.
• Have a basic knowledge of Labview and/or Java, and have basic knowledge of Agile/Sprint methodologies.
• Communication skills, teamwork, presentation skills, and you are proactive and not afraid to speak up or ask questions.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to a BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) check. You may also need to gain UK SC-level Security Clearance or Export Control, depending on the role.

Company: AIRBUS Defence and Space Limited Employment Type: Internship ------- Experience Level: Student Job Family: Manufacturing Engineering

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.

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.

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.

The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services.

In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services.

Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses.

In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

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