Placement
Closes in 3 days
TL;DR
Key Takeaways
- 13-month placement in Portsmouth starting 19 July 2027.
- Salary of £24,500 per year.
- Undertake Lean Improvement Projects and support the Operational Excellence System.
- Must be an undergraduate studying a relevant engineering or project management degree.
- Applications close on 25 October 2026.
About the Role
This is a 13-month placement role based in Portsmouth, starting on 19 July 2027.
About the Team
The Industrial Management Team drives improvement activities to deliver spacecraft faster, more affordably, and to the highest quality. This role focuses on enhancing Operational Excellence Maturity at the Portsmouth site through the implementation of the Operational Excellence System (OES) and Lean methodologies. You will also manage the Portsmouth Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration, and Test (MAIT) Improvement Plan.
What you will be doing
- Define and deliver a 12-month improvement plan for the site.
- Review and reduce the “MAIT Cost Base” and “Ready for Bid Price” through improvement opportunities.
- Support the development of production dashboards and KPI visualisation.
- Assist in coordinating the efficient use of facility footprint and resources.
- Implement and mature the Operational Excellence System (OES) within MAIT.
- Deliver Lean Improvement Projects (5S, Visual management, VSM, Flow Analysis, KPIs).
- Drive problem-solving and improvement activities.
- Lead and support process streamlining.
- Report on the status of Improvement Projects, controlling cost and schedule.
- Standardise Lean MAIT Processes, documentation, and working methods.
- Promote Lean education and awareness.
Requirements
- Must be an undergraduate for the entire duration of the placement.
- Studying towards a degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical/Radio Frequency, Project management or Health & Safety.
- Understanding of Practical Problem Solving (PPS), Kaizen workshops, and visual management.
- Experience in improvement projects.
- Some knowledge of coding and scripting.
- Good communication skills.
- Creative, inventive, and proactive with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Benefits
- Salary: £24,500 per year
- 37 hours per week
- Flexible working hours
- Hybrid working options available
- Half day Fridays (subject to completing full hours)
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Application Process
- Applications close on 25 October 2026.
- You will be subject to a BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) check, and may need to gain UK SC-level Security Clearance or Export Control.
- A CV and Cover Letter outlining your motivation and suitability are required.