Mechanical / Aeronautical / Manufacturing Engineering Intern
9+ Weeks (Negotiable)
Westcott Venture Park, near Bicester, UK
July 2026 (Negotiable)
Real living wage - £13.45/hr (exp 40 hrs/week)
About Flare Bright
Flare Bright is a fast-growing software company specialising in Flight Safety and GPS-free Navigation Systems for the Aerospace, Defence, and Urban Air Mobility sectors. With a team of around 30 professionals, we operate from Oxford/Bicester and White City, London. Our culture is professional, flexible, and inclusive, offering excellent benefits and a proven track record of success. This is a rare opportunity to join an expanding, cutting-edge team.
The Role
The company is offering an opportunity for a Mechanical or Aeronautical Engineering Intern to work with us over the Summer of 2026 to support ongoing product development and testing activities.
Details of the role and reporting line will be determined based on the expertise of the intern and company priorities at the time but, in all circumstances, will provide a unique opportunity to learn from a cutting edge organisation shaping the future of aviation. It is expected that, working closely with everyone from apprentices to our CEO and CTO, you will draw on a variety of mechanical and aeronautical engineering skills, including aerodynamic design, vibration compensation, manufacturing using 3D printers, and flight performance analysis.
Skills and Experience
In the penultimate year of a relevant Engineering degree, with an expectation of a 2.1 grade at minimum.
Interest in novel aerospace technologies, uncrewed aerial systems and flight safety, with a broad understanding of defining industry trends.
Must show strengths in one of:
A core aeronautical/mechanical design disciple, such as aerodynamics, aircraft conceptual design or mechanical vibration.
Manufacturing methods, focused on precision electronic components.
Safety system engineering approaches, such as fault tree analysis.
Enthusiasm for practical application through building and testing components or flight test activities, with experience in 3D printers or Raspberry Pi’s a plus.
An analytic mindset, able to perform technical evaluations and present progress and conclusions to peers through clear and concise verbal and written communication.
You must be willing to work as part of a team with good interpersonal skills.
Skills as an amateur RC pilot would be a plus.
Requirements:
You must be comfortable working within the defence industry. A Baseline Personnel Security Standard check will be undertaken before an offer is made, and you must be willing and eligible for (or already have) at least UK SC clearance. References will be checked.
Location:
You will be based at our Head Office in Westcott Venture Park (15 minutes drive from Bicester or Aylesbury, 30-minute drive NE of Oxford). There is provision for flexible working where necessary, but this is an onsite position.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a rapidly growing company at the forefront of cutting-edge technology in the defence sector.
Enjoy a flexible, professional, and inclusive work culture.
Work with a talented team shaping the future of Autonomous Aviation, Machine Learning & Digital Twin technology.
Competitive pro rata salary and benefits.
33 days annual holiday (pro rata), Employee Assistance Programme, cycle to work scheme and support for Continuous Professional Development
We work in defence as well as commercial and ‘blue light’ sectors, so you must be comfortable working within the defence industry, and be eligible to work in the UK. We have a preference for those who will be able to work on sensitive defence projects due to nationality (typically UK, NATO or Five Eyes). Due to the security classification on the work we do, we will undertake a routine Baseline Personnel Security Standard check on the successful applicant. This is a standard process which includes references and career history checks.
RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Please do not contact us about this role.