Junior Battery Manufacturing Engineer in Bristol

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.

Please note we are only able to consider British Nationals, or individuals who have indefinite right to work in the UK. We are unable to consider anyone who will require sponsorship once their graduate visa expires.

The Opportunity As a Graduate Battery Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll join our Battery Manufacturing Engineering team at the forefront of aerospace electrification. This isn’t high‑volume automotive production. This is early‑stage aerospace electrification — where manufacturing processes are still being defined, tooling strategies are being shaped, and production systems are evolving under strict regulatory requirements.

You’ll Work At The Intersection Of:

• Electrification
• Aerospace regulation
• Advanced manufacturing
• Product industrialisation

What You’ll Do From day one, you’ll contribute to real industrialisation activity. You will:

• Support the development and optimisation of battery assembly manufacturing processes
• Assist in the design, validation and commissioning of tooling, fixtures and production equipment
• Run process trials and analyse performance data
• Improve yield, process capability and repeatability
• Create and maintain structured process documentation (work instructions, control plans, PFMEAs)
• Support root cause investigations using structured methodologies (8D, DMAIC)
• Work cross‑functionally with Design, Test, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure manufacturability
• Help transition builds from prototype to early production

This is hands‑on process engineering in a highly regulated, safety‑critical aerospace environment.

What You’ll Gain Within your first 12–18 months, you’ll build experience in:

• Industrialising complex electro‑mechanical systems
• Certification‑driven aerospace manufacturing
• Battery assembly techniques and process capability
• Structured problem‑solving in regulated environments
• Cross‑functional engineering collaboration
• Scaling manufacturing systems from prototype to production

You won’t just understand how batteries are designed — you’ll understand how they’re built at scale.

What You’ll Bring We’re looking for graduates who want responsibility early and are motivated by tangible engineering impact. You Should Have:

• This role is primarily aimed at students graduating in Summer 2026; however, we will also consider 2025 graduates
• A degree (or graduating soon) in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Materials, Electrical Engineering or related discipline
• Strong analytical thinking and comfort working with structured data
• Genuine interest in process development and industrialisation
• Curiosity about electrification and advanced aerospace technology
• Attention to detail and comfort working in regulated environments
• Confidence collaborating across multidisciplinary teams

Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, DFM, precision assembly, bonding, welding, automation or simulation tools is beneficial — but not essential. Mindset and drive matter more than polish.

Why This Role Is Different We’ll join at the stage where manufacturing processes are still being defined, tooling strategies are being shaped, production methods are evolving, and certification requirements influence design decisions. This is exposure that’s difficult to replicate in mature, high‑volume industries.

Why Join Vertical? At Vertical Aerospace, you’ll:

• Work on one of the most critical technologies enabling zero‑emissions flight
• Gain exposure across the full product lifecycle — concept through industrialisation
• Receive structured development and mentorship
• Experience certification‑driven manufacturing in aerospace
• Be part of a scaling engineering team shaping the future of aviation

If you want to help build the systems that power electric flight — this is your opportunity.

Our 4 Step Application Process:

• Apply with your CV inclusive of a short cover letter at the top of your CV answering the below in no more than 200 words per question:

• Why Vertical interests you?
• A project you’re proud of (please make this as relevant as possible to the role you are applying to. Specify your role, learnings, outcome.)
• How you’ve applied engineering principles outside academia
• How you stay organised in time‑critical projects

If successful, you will be invited to attend a 30‑minute video screening interview with one of our talent partners where you will be asked a mixture of technical and behaviours. If successful, you will be asked to complete a short take‑home technical exercise. All instructions will be shared at this stage. If you are successful following step 3, you will be invited to the final stage — an onsite group assessment exercise and technical interview in our central Bristol office.

We’ll keep you informed throughout the process.

What can you expect from us? We are 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:

• 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.