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MBDA • Bolton | United Kingdom

Electronic Manufacturing Test Engineer – Undergraduate Placement 2026

Employment type:  Full time
Salary:  £23,495 per annum
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Job Description

Electronic Manufacturing Test Engineer – Undergraduate Placement 2026

Join the MBDA team and become a key player in ensuring our top-notch manufacturing standards! As a Test Engineer, you'll collaborate with expert engineers across the UK, working on a range of cutting-edge technologies including electronics, optics, and RF. Your hands-on approach, combined with office-based technical work, will see you play a pivotal role in maintaining MBDA's excellence. From drafting drawings to introducing new equipment, process improvements are at the heart of what you'll do, all while contributing to the successful testing and programming of complex systems.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 5 days per week on-site due to workload classification

Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you

  • 1 year placement: starting September 2026, that allows you to apply your university learning to real-world projects and technologies

  • Company bonus: based on company performance and will vary year to year

  • Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%

  • Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime

  • Healthcare Cash Plan: provides support with everyday health related costs – including medical, dental, optical, physio and health & wellbeing

  • Annual Leave: 25 days plus option to purchase extra holiday

  • Flexi Leave: up to 15 additional days

  • Facilities: fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS ROLE IS MIDNIGHT ON 5TH JANUARY 2026 (SUBJECT TO APPLICATION VOLUMES)

The opportunity

Manufacturing Test Engineering is part of the Operations Directorate in MBDA. We have engineers deployed across three of our UK sites supporting the manufacturing process throughout the whole build cycle from sub-systems to the final product for launch platforms and weapon systems. We support the testing and programming of systems, from circuit cards through to missiles; working with varied technologies including, but not limited to, electronics, mechatronics, optics and RF. Within Manufacturing Test Engineering you’ll be working within a team of Engineers who have varied experiences and expertise, who work together to support a set of equipment. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from these Engineers throughout your scheme as you participate in two, five month placements.

Test Engineers work closely with several collaborative functions such as Product Design, Test Equipment Design, Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Assurance to support our key customer, Manufacturing Operations. Daily activities for a Test Engineer vary from working hands on with the product on the shop floor and in the lab, to working in the office on technical documentation and drawings. Your regular activities could include: Assisting in diagnosing and fault finding non-conforming products or equipment Authoring instructions and/or specifications Drafting and publishing drawing packs Analysing test and production related data Assisting in introducing new products and equipment into Manufacturing Process improvements

What we're looking for from you

Working towards a degree in Engineering degree (incl. General, Mechanical, Manufacturing/Production, Aeronautical/Aerospace, Civil, Electrical/Electronic and Software) or Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Computing or Applied Science.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.

Company benefits

Enhanced maternity leave – up to 26 weeks
Shared parental leave – up to 26 weeks
Adoption leave – up to 26 weeks
Neo-natal leave – up to 12 weeks
Cycle to work scheme
Open to part-time employees
Open to job sharing
Open to compressed hours
25 days annual leave + bank holidays
Open to part time work for some roles
Buddy scheme – buddies when onboarding
Technology Loan – salary sacrifice options available
In house training – In house L&D team
Enhanced sick pay – increases with length of service
Mental health first aiders
Family health insurance – salary sacrifice options
Health insurance – salary sacrifice options
Dental coverage – salary sacrifice options
Gym membership – Discounted gym on site in Stevenage, or discounts for local gyms across UK
Compassionate leave
Coffee discounts – discounted on site cafes and canteens
Travel loan – season ticket loans for public transport
Restaurant discounts – discount/cashback employee platform
Buy or sell annual leave – buy up to 5 extra days
Optional unpaid leave
Time off in-lieu
Company shutdown periods – Christmas closures and bank holidays
Enhanced paternity leave – available after 26 weeks service
On-site gym
Faith rooms
Bike parking – secure parking at all sites
On-site catering
On-site wellness room – reflection rooms available to employees
Annual bonus – all employee bonuses paid in Feb/March
Referral bonus – up to £3,000 for a successful referral
Salary sacrifice
Enhanced pension match/contribution
Share options
Annual pay rises – performance (+ inflation) increases each year
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice – MyCarScheme - including electric vehicles
Personal development budgets – up to £150 towards non-work training courses
Employee assistance programme
Mentoring – available to all employees. Includes women in leadership options
Volunteer days – up to 2 days a year for team-based volunteering
Employee discounts
Learning platform – access to multiple learning resources
Electric vehicle charging unit loan – electric charging points at all UK sites
Teambuilding days
Professional subscriptions – full membership funding available
L&D budget
Language lessons

Working at MBDA

Company employees

6000

Gender diversity (male:female)

73:27

Currently hiring in

France

United Kingdom

Office Locations

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