Mechanical Engineering Graduate

2026 Mechanical Engineering Graduate

Location:

Harwell, Quad Two, United Kingdom

Start Date:

07 September 2026

Salary: £34,000 per annum

Employee type:
Permanent

Working

Schedule:

Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

• The opportunity to work on exciting projects and technology within Thales Alenia Space focused on the development of propulsion systems for spacecraft
• Development, support and mentoring from our experienced Engineering team
• Permanent role from day one

• Assist the design, development, and analysis of mechanical components and subsystems for chemical and/or electrical propulsion systems
• Conduct engineering calculations, simulations, and modelling for thermal and structural aspects relevant to propulsion hardware
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams
• Prepare technical documentation, test reports, and design reviews
• Contribute to problem‑solving and design improvements based on test results and analysis
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and quality protocols
• Keep abreast of new technologies and advancements in propulsion and mechanical engineering fields to support the development of the technology and product roadmaps

You will have gained or be on track to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM Subject in one of the following subject areas:

• Aerospace engineering
• Mechanical and thermal engineering for aerospace
• Systems engineering
• Physics
• Similar related subject/field

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• Performance‑related pay uplifts
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Please note that Graduate Development Programme (GDP) activities take place during the working week but may require the investment of some personal time for travel and follow‑up activities. You may have the opportunity to travel to Thales and non‑Thales sites throughout the UK when participating in GDP activities.

Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February – May 2026. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 07 September – Friday 11 September 2026.

Applications close m on Monday 5 January 2026. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all of our roles are subject to security restrictions. All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK, and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements before starting employment.