Principal Materials Engineer

Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to take a lead role for high temperature materials, mainly engineering ceramics and ceramic matrix composites within our state of the art Stevenage Materials and Processes Laboratory.

Salary: Circa £60,000 DOE + Excellent Benefits + Bonus + Flexible Working

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 4 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:

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (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

• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days

• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements

• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments

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

The opportunity:

In support of Design, manufacturing, in-service, and research and development, you will be responsible the specification, implementation and use of engineering ceramic and CMC materials especially those in high temperature or radio frequency use cases. With your strong background in inorganic materials/chemistry and you extensive industry experience, you will ensure that Design engineers are recommended the most appropriate materials, manufacturing processes and materials that are fit for purpose and compliant with national and international regulations and standards, and R&D materials are developed to level that they can be inserted. As a member of the Materials and Processes UK team, you will carry out activities in support of all aspects of materials, within the company facilities, the customer, and the supply chain.

Key Aspects of the role

• To provide expertise in the specification, manufacturing and use of ceramic and CMC's.

• More general support to other high temperature materials.

• Management & delivery of characterisation programmes either internally or externally, including some level of hands on.

• Lead and deliver, complex R&D projects with both internal and external stakeholders including at a international level.

• Provide advice and support to Procurement / Projects/ Engineering regarding the processing capability of sub-contractors.

• Some hands on material testing including: Micro sectioning, examination and testing of a variety of materials/components, including mechanical, thermal, chemical and physical testing of materials.

• Provide a focus for environmental information and legislation relevant to MBDA UK.

• Provide guidance on material, Health & Safety information to Operations and advice and analysis for COSHH and REACH assessments and hazardous waste removal as required.

• Travel to suppliers and attend conferences, both nationally and internationally, potentially including the EU and US.

What we're looking for from you:

• Ideally degree or equivalent in a science based subject such as Materials Science, inorganic Chemistry or ceramics/ceramic composites.

• Significant industry experience, having worked in industry for several years post graduation.

• Significant experience of working a busy laboratory.

• Significant theoretical and practical experience in engineering ceramics or ceramic composites joining techniques and adhesive bonding process with experience of COSHH and REACH including Environmental issues associated with production.

• Experience of working in defence or aerospace, or other safety critical industries an advantage.

• A confident communicator with the ability to work at many different levels in the company, as well as with suppliers and be able to practice good stakeholder management and engagement.

• Strong motivation, and good problem solving skills with the ability to think differently.

• Ability/flexibility to travel to other locations when required.

• Flexibility to take on a wide variety of tasks, some of which may be outside area of expertise.

• Knowledge for radio frequency (RF) or low observability would be an advantage

What’s in it for you?

• The role will provide many stimulating technical challenges and personal development opportunities.

• MBDA values its employees' personal and professional development and therefore provides opportunities for both on the job training, e-learning and classroom learning in a variety of technical and managerial subjects.

• As part of a multi-national company you will have the opportunity to travel on a regular basis both within the UK and internationally.

• You will be working in a fast-paced, multi-functional operations team, who strive for personal and professional excellence working on new product lines

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.