Placement
Closes in 3 days
TL;DR
Key Takeaways
- Undertake a 13-month placement as a Plant Support Engineer in Stevenage, starting 19 July 2027.
- Earn £24,500 per year, working 37 hours per week with hybrid options and half-day Fridays.
- Gain experience in Lean methodologies, operational excellence, and project management within the space industry.
- Applications close on 25 October 2026.
About the Role
This is a 13-month placement role based in Stevenage, starting on 19 July 2027.
About the Industrial Management Team
The Industrial Management Team is responsible for driving improvement activities, from minor process enhancements to major research and development projects. This role focuses on enhancing the Operational Excellence Maturity of the Stevenage site through the implementation of the Operational Excellence System (OES) and Lean methodologies. The team also defines and manages the Stevenage Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration, and Test (MAIT) Improvement Plan.
You will collaborate with colleagues across various Airbus sites and with teams in Airbus Commercial and Airbus Defence and Space Transformation.
What you will be doing:
- Support the definition and delivery of a 12-month improvement plan for the site.
- Continuously review and reduce the “MAIT Cost Base” and “Ready for Bid Price” through improvement opportunities.
- Develop production dashboards and KPI visualisations to support industrial efficiency.
- Assist in multi-project oversight to coordinate 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) on Quality, on Time and on Cost.
- Drive specific problem-solving and improvement activities.
- Lead and support the streamlining of processes.
- Report on the status of Improvement Projects and control cost and schedule.
- Standardise Lean MAIT Processes, documentation, and working methods across Stevenage and/or Portsmouth.
- Promote Lean education and awareness in Portsmouth, ensuring a standardised approach with other sites.
Requirements:
- This placement is open to Undergraduates only for the entire duration.
- You should be 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), running Kaizen workshops, and implementing visual management.
- Experience in improvement projects.
- Some knowledge of coding and scripting.
- Good communication skills.
- Creative, inventive, able to think outside the box with an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Open-minded and proactive.
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.
Benefits:
- Salary: £24,500 per year
- Hours: 37 hours per week
- Flexible working hours
- Hybrid working options available
- Half day Fridays (subject to completing full hours prior)
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays