Telecom Digital Payload Architect Engineering Placement (12 months)

AIRBUS Defence and Space Limited; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Portsmouth is offering an internship for undergraduates in payload design and architecture. The role involves assisting in performance evaluation and specification preparation for innovative telecom satellites. Candidates should be pursuing a relevant degree and possess programming knowledge. Flexible working hours and many benefits included.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Hybrid working

Half day Fridays

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Candidates must be undergraduates for the whole duration of the placement.
• Graduation date must be informed on application.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development of payload architecture through performance evaluation.
• Prepare performance specifications and analyses.
• Support payload delivery and environmental test campaigns.

Skills

Basic knowledge of computer programming (e.g. Matlab, Python)

Proficient in MS Office applications, especially Microsoft Excel

Understanding of communication equipment utilization

Desire to work in the Space Industry

Education

Studying towards a degree in Telecommunications Systems, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics

Job description

Job Description

Start date: 20 July 2026

Location: Portsmouth

Duration: 12 months

Application: We love your interest in joining Airbus! There is no limit on the number of positions you can apply for, however, you can only progress in the selection process for one position at a time. We recommend reviewing all available opportunities and applying to those that best match your experience and aspirations.

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Benefits:

Salary: GBP23,850

37 hours per week, Flexible working hours, Hybrid working, Half day Fridays!, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Subject to completing full hours prior to this.

About us:

Are you interested in developing and optimising innovative solutions for our telecom satellite and payload architectures? Would you like to provide engineering support for groundbreaking projects like OneSAT? Then this opportunity is for you.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team that delivers payload architecture on telecom payload projects across all phases. Our team’s expertise spans Antennas and Payload Engineering in disciplines such as RF, EMC, Electrical, Mechanical Systems Engineering, and Database and Data Management. We focus on designing payload architectures for innovative telecom satellites based on analogue and digital signal processing, active antennas reconfigurable by beamforming, passive antennas and new RF technologies, in order to meet the growing demand for flexible telecom satellites solutions.

Our team is responsible for the technical performance commitment of advanced payloads and satellite products. We achieve this through design trade-offs that consider overall requirements, costs, schedules, and performance at both the customer and supplier level. This includes assessing whether to reuse existing products or develop new solutions. In particular, in support of challenging and innovative on-going game-changing products such as OneSAT to various world-wide satellite operators, delivering satellites that are fully flexible and reconfigurable to meet changing market demands in a competitive and highly technical environment.

At Airbus, we promote flexibility in our working methods wherever possible to stimulate innovation and social sustainability. Our team is located in Portsmouth, a dynamic city in the south of England with excellent transport links and many possibilities for outdoor activities.

What you will be doing:

You will evolve within multi-disciplinary and transnational groups (UK, France) that cover all the main aspects of payload design and architecture, including analogue payload equipment and active and passive antennas.

You will assist in the development of payload architecture through performance evaluation and will contribute to the definition of operational tools and processes. Your tasks will include preparing performance specifications, analyses, evaluating payload settings in accordance with mission needs and supporting payload design trade-offs. You will also have the opportunity to attend or provide inputs to programme review technical packages and technical reviews.

This job will allow working on a variety of disciplines to deliver on-going projects throughout the typical project lifecycle, as well as access to other engineering disciplines that enable and deliver next generation satellites.

There will also be opportunities to support the payload delivery including payload and spacecraft environmental test campaigns and review of test results.

Requirements:

Our placements are open to Undergraduates only. Therefore it is mandatory for candidates to be an undergraduate for the whole duration of the placement. Please inform your graduation date on your application.

Your application should include a CV along with a Cover Letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the role.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Studying towards a degree in Telecommunications Systems, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics;
• Basic knowledge of computer programming (e.g. Matlab, Python etc.);
• Understanding of utilisation of communication equipment, test equipment; test techniques will be desired but not essential;
• Proficient in MS Office applications, especially Microsoft Excel, or Google Suite;
• Desire to work in the Space Industry is essential.

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.

Contact:

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments to allow you to access and participate fully in the recruitment process. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us. 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 today’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company: AIRBUS Defence and Space Limited

Employment Type: Internship

Experience Level: Student

Job Family: Programme & Project Management

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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. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to .

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.