A Level 6 degree apprenticeship programme in Space Systems Engineering at Airbus Defence & Space Portsmouth. Apprentices will develop skills in systems engineering, hardware design, and coding through internal placements across business functions. The programme combines on-site work with day release university study, involving work on satellites in clean-rooms, participation in environmental testing, hardware assembly, mission design support, and R&D activities. Apprentices will progress through rotation phases in Years 1-2, specialise in Year 3, and complete their degree and End Point Assessment in Year 4, with successful completion leading to permanent employment.

Year 1 & 2: 80% on-site structured internal placements across business lines, 20% day release study at University of Portsmouth. Year 3: 80% on-site specialising towards permanent role, developing speciality competencies in hiring department, 20% day release study. Year 4: Complete degree (20% day release study until conclusion), complete End Point Assessment, and secure permanent role as full-time employee. Apprentices will learn satellite architecture, collaborate with multi-functional teams, assist with system modelling and data analysis, work in clean-rooms, support environmental testing, help with hardware assembly, understand mission design, participate in R&D, and draft technical documentation. Part of an apprenticeship cohort with peer support network including later-year cohorts. Includes Outward Bound week and outreach activities.

Work closely with mentors and technical experts while progressing through university studies and structured on-the-job training. Exposure to broad range of engineering disciplines on site providing diverse experience. Part of early careers cohorts with strong peer support network.

Salary: £23,000. 37 hours per week with half-day Fridays (subject to completing full hours prior). 25 days holiday plus bank holidays. Pension. Success share. Flexible benefits. Outward Bound week. Outreach activities. Early careers cohort support.

Airbus Defence and Space is the biggest space company in Europe and a major player in the UK's growing space sector. The Portsmouth facility designs, builds and tests advanced satellites that help monitor climate change, keep the world connected, and power UK national satellite TV. The team builds the 'brains' of satellites – the payload – with some of the world-leading technology. Satellites weighing up to 6 tonnes are launched to beam TV, internet, and secure communications globally, including to military teams. The company also supports maritime satellite terminals for keeping ships and crews connected across oceans.