Collins Aerospace (Electric Power Systems)
"We work at the leading edge of aerospace technology to drive the future of the More Electric aircraft." Collins Aerospace
Our Scholarships
Placement Location
Solihull
Type of Placements Offered
• Summer placements only
Restrictions/Notes
(1) Open only to British citizens (no dual nationals); (2) Candidates required to undergo security clearance
Who we are and what we do
Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Today, we have systems and equipment on nearly every aircraft platform – from avionics to landing gear, nacelles to cabin seating, fuel systems to connectivity and much more.
Our Electronic Control and Motor Systems business unit (ECMS), situated in Solihull, is leading the way in the development of electric and hybrid electric aerospace propulsion technology.
At ECMS we design and develop high power electric motors, motor controllers, power conversion and energy storage systems. The group includes experienced design teams in the areas of electronics, power electronics, firmware and electro-mechanical design.
What you could be doing during your work placement
Placements will be based at the ECMS office in Solihull, West Midlands. During your placement you will join other Scholars, Graduates and apprentices in working on the development of electric propulsion technology.
Previous placement activities have included:
- Development of electronic circuits and circuit boards for control or monitoring.
- Development of Firmware control systems in VHDL
- Testing of high power, high voltage components such as inverters and insulation materials
- Battery system testing and working with battery suppliers
- Simulation and prototyping of motor control system
You will be working in our modern open-plan office space, opened in 2020. This space has been designed to encourage collaboration and learning between peers, and as such will give you access to a variety of engineering knowledge and experience. The site also features a well-equipped lab including a low and high voltage electronics lab, motor test cells and environmental (temperature, vibration, EMC) test facilities.
Meet two of our Scholars
Name: Kreesha
Sponsor: Collins Aerospace (Electric Power Systems)
University: University of Sheffield
Degree Course: MEng Electronic and Computer Engineering
Which area of Engineering are you interested in and why?
I’m interested in Electronics, specifically firmware and embedded software engineering. I value how a lot of emphasis in firmware is placed on reference to a well-defined requirements doc, ensuring traceability, timing and performance constraints. I also really like how firmware engineers are able to spend time in the lab testing and working directly with hardware, as well as designing low-level code in unique HDL languages like VHDL and verilog.
Why did you want a scholarship with Collins Aerospace?
In Year 12, I took part in the Industrial Cadets Gold Project, where my team was sponsored and mentored by Collins Aerospace. The experience gave me an insight into the company’s goals, and led me to do my own research on the field of power electronics in the aerospace
field. I valued the opportunity to gain real industry experience in the aerospace field, a sector that’s always been cutting-edge and fast-growing.
What type of work have you been involved with during your placement?
In my first placement, I worked with the firmware team, developing my VHDL skills. I used industry software to simulate RTLs and testbenches, as well as synthesizing and implementing onto the FPGA. I was introduced to the structure and design of FSMs and creating test signals for DACs, and also different VHDL security principles (one-hot encoding, bit overflow protection.) In my second placement, I spent my time on Embedded Software, coding a Control card with a Digital Signal Processing chip. I worked on ADC and low pass filter coding using C programming through extensive reference to a technical manual. Aside from my time in the office, I also attended the Centre for Power Electronics Annual Conference 2024 and 2025 as an intern delegate, fostering my interest of the Electronics field outside of work.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I love baking – my favourite thing to bake is macarons and it’s taken me a while to get good at making them. I also like to bake madeleines and choux pastry like eclairs.
Name: Sam
Sponsor: Collins Aerospace (Electric Power Systems)
University: University of Bristol
Degree Course: MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Which area of Engineering are you interested in and why?
My main interests are in high voltage electrical power generation, conversion and storage as our reliance on electric motors and drives increases. As we move away from fossil fuels and seek cleaner alternatives for transportation, I am interested in exploring how to create more efficient machines and drives to facilitate hybrid and maybe even fully electric aircraft in the future.
Why did you want a scholarship with Collins Aerospace?
When applying for the UKESF scholarship, I wanted to choose a company at the forefront of the hybrid electric propulsion revolution working to supply the next generation of aircraft. The work undertaken by the Electronic Control and Motor Systems team in Solihull was exactly the type of exposure to the industry I was looking for. Being part of one of the largest aerospace companies in the world (as part of RTX) appealed to me due to the cutting-edge facilities and expert knowledge available.
What type of work have you been involved with during your placement?
During my first placement, I designed, modelled and tested a 125kW 3-phase inverter circuit for use within a motor drive system. This was the first time I had ever designed a PCB and testing the converter at high voltage was an eye-opening experience. For my second placement, I designed an 800V to 28V DC-DC converter, modelled the behaviour using MATLAB, wound my own transformer and tested the circuit in the lab. The hands-on experience at Collins Aerospace has been invaluable in developing my technical understanding of power electronics beyond the university’s curriculum.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I am a keen motorcyclist who enjoys strapping a tent to the back of my motorbike and exploring the UK and Europe with friends. I also hold a motorcycle racing license and enjoy the odd track-day as well as tinkering with my bikes in the garage. When the weather becomes too cold for biking, I enjoy skiing and snowboarding over in the alps, however, the latter requires quite a bit more practice.