Telecom Digital Payload Architect Engineering Placement (13 months)

Job Description:

Start date: 19 July 2027

Location: Portsmouth

Duration: 13 months

Applications close on 18 October 2026!

We love your interest in joining Airbus! There is no limit on the number of positions you can apply for, however, please be aware that 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: £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: 

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 (Radio Frequency) 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:

Working with the Payload Architects across Mechanical, Electrical, EMC (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility) and RF (Radio Frequency) disciplines to perform the following:

• Equipment test results review for Flight Models - Review the suppler equipment data for mechanical, electrical, EMC and RF performance. Check that the tests performed match those required as per the test procedure and that compliance is achieved and performance is in-family.
• Produce equipment calibration curves for specific equipment so that the telemetry is then accurately recorded for the satellite. This also supports the satellite monitoring and warnings.
• Support population of the team confluence page to capture knowledge and best practices.
• Support additional topics which come up during your internship to support the payload architects team, this can range from mass budget updates to performing analyses.

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 Google Suite (sheets, docs, slides);
• Desire to work in the Space Industry is essential.

This Job Request will be allocated to the projected Joint-Venture scope towards a leading European player in space.

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.

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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.

Company:

AIRBUS Defence and Space Limited

Employment Type:

Internship

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Experience Level:

Student

Job Family:

Programme & Project Management <JF-PP-PM>

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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.