A 10-month internship with the Orbex Avionics department to support work testing onboard avionics, electronics and radio frequency hardware in the lab and at our test site.

Company Description:

Orbex is Europe’s leading orbital launch services company with our Prime vehicle being prepared to launch from our home spaceport, Sutherland Spaceport. We are well placed to be one of the first operational micro-launch companies in Europe with over €85m of project financing secured, several customers signed up, our launch licence application submitted, and backing from organisations including UKSA and ESA.

We are a rapidly growing company with staff located between our production and test facilities in Forres, Scotland, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Working on cutting-edge advances in rocket fuel technology, Prime’s carbon footprint of a single launch is up to 96% lower than comparable vehicles, which has also led to innovations in propulsion and tank structures.

Having developed in-house production capability, we can 3D print complex propulsion system components, produce full-scale carbon composite structures and fuel tanks, and have avionics and software testing labs in both Scotland and Denmark. Based in Forres, this internship will be right in the heart of this fast-paced cutting-edge company, with a unique insight into what it takes to build a new launch vehicle for a buoyant commercial market.

Located at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, Forres is close to a spectacular coastline with easy access to woodlands, hills, and the nearby towns and cities of Inverness and Aberdeen, offering a fantastic professional and personal opportunity for growth and exploration.

Project Description:

Your time at Orbex will give you the opportunity to be immersed in the Avionics department to support work including, for example:

• Supporting avionics test campaigns through set up, execution, and monitoring;
• Developing test equipment with wire harnessing, printed circuit board preparation, writing python scripts; and,
• Working with the radio frequency team on airborne and ground-based radio systems.

You will be working alongside some of the most experienced launch vehicle engineers in the industry, on a programme that challenges the way rockets are developed and manufactured in Europe today. We aim for you to gain:

1. A mix of electronics, electrical and avionics design, testing, and hands-on practical experience in the Avionics department.
2. Multi-cultural and cross-disciple team working and interpersonal skills.
3. An understanding of what it takes to build a start-up company in the space industry.
4. An appreciation to embrace innovation.
5. Confidence and inspiration to remain in the space sector.

For the right candidate, this could be an extended job interview with the opportunity to join Orbex in a permanent role in the future.

Applicant Specification:

Orbex is a fast-moving company with a lot going on every day. We are looking for candidates who work hard, deliver reliably, and put the team above themselves. You will hit the ground running, so we look for self-starters who can figure things out quickly using their initiative.

Minimum Requirements:

• In your 2^nd or 3^rd year at a UK based college or university studying Electronics or Electrical Engineering.
• Comfortable working with multimeters, oscilloscopes, and power supplies;
• Basic soldering skills;
• Knowledge of PCB design Skills, ideally KiCAD;
• Demonstrable enthusiasm for avionics and/or radio frequency technology and the launch sector;
• Familiarity with embedded systems, such as Arduino;
• Basic Python and/or C programming;
• To be based at Forres, Scotland for the duration of the internship;
• Strong English language skills; and,
• Must be a UK or EU citizen, or from a country that is a signatory to the MTCR.

Further Details:

10-month internship

Salary, £1933 per calendar month gross

You will be responsible for finding your accommodation and organising your travel to Forres, and the workplace each day. Any requirement to travel outside of Forres for business will be fully reimbursed. All equipment required to complete the internship will be provided.

We do not take responsibility for organising or paying for work visas for internships and do not expect to pay for any additional training courses that you may wish to undertake during the placement period.

Closing Date for Applications:  5pm on Friday 26 April 

Please include in your application your areas of interest and why you are best suited to join us. We are looking for CVs and covering letters embedded with photographs and video links of your work and experience. We can only accept one document upload, so please consolidate your full application into one document.

Applications should be made through the apply button before the closing date. Please ensure that your email address is entered correctly so that we can contact you regarding your application progress.