Flight Controls 2026 Summer Internship - Actuation

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.

We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

Make your mark on the future of flight - this summer

From June to August, we’re offering a 3-month internship opportunity within our Flight Controls team, where you’ll help us shape the systems that physically move the aircraft. You won’t just be observing - you’ll be hands-on from day one, supporting the development and integration of electric actuators and control electronics for our Valo aircraft.

You’ll join the Actuation team, working closely with experienced engineers and suppliers to solve real engineering problems. Whether you’re modelling dynamic behaviours or contributing to system validation, your work will play a part in building a zero-emissions aircraft that sets new standards in aerospace safety.

Expect structured support throughout the internship, including a dedicated mentor, regular feedback, and exposure to live engineering projects and decision-making.

If you're curious, motivated, and want to learn through doing, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

• Support design and modelling activities across electric actuators and control electronics

• Help analyse loads, performance, and dynamic behaviour

• Assist in validating the flight control actuation system

• Contribute to requirements and traceability documentation

• Collaborate across teams and communicate your findings clearly

Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for students who are excited by complex systems, collaborative by nature, and eager to grow through real-world engineering experience.

You should be:

• Studying towards a degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering

• Interested in electromechanical systems and control hardware

• Comfortable with modelling or data analysis tools

• A clear communicator with a methodical, safety-conscious approach

• Motivated to learn and make a real contribution

If you don’t tick every box — that’s okay. We value curiosity, potential, and a willingness to learn.

What happens next?
We’re excited to learn more about you! Here's how our recruitment process works:

Apply: Submit your CV along with a brief cover letter (at the top of your CV) addressing these three questions:

• What excites you about Vertical Aerospace?

• What are you hoping to gain from an internship with us?

• How do you stay organised when working on time-critical projects? (max 200 words)

First Stage: Successful applicants will be asked to complete a short take-home written technical exercise

Second Stage: We'll invite you to a friendly 20-minute video call with one of our Talent Partners to get to know you better.

Final Stage: Ideally, our hiring manager would love to meet you face-to-face at our Camwal Court Bristol office . If that's not possible, we're happy to arrange a remote Teams interview instead.

We’re aiming to complete all stages by end of February so we can extend offers shortly afterwards. We'll keep you informed at every step of the journey.

What can you expect from us?

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal. 

Our benefits

Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday

• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)

• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership

• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits

• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)

• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance

• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee

• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it

• Breakfast on us, every day

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.