Systems Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

Job Description

Systems Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: Where possible, we will seek to accommodate a blended approach to on-site and remote working, but this will depend on project requirements and the need for access to specific site facilities.

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.

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

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…

The opportunity

Working within one of our Systems Design functions, you will be involved in designing the latest Complex Weapons capabilities for the UK and partner nation Armed Forces in response to advanced threats in Air, Land, Maritime and Cyber domains.

You’ll complete a placement based on a project that could be at any stage in a range of areas, from future capabilities to in-service products. Through the placement, we’ll help you understand the make-up of a missile or a weapon system; from the warhead to the seeker in the missile to the wider weapon system components.

These placements will enable you to understand the Systems Engineering ‘V’ model across the whole product lifecycle – including:

• Researching future technologies and novel domains;

• Developing requirements and functional architectures;

• Creating concept solutions through Agile methodologies;

• Analysing performance and conducting trade space studies;

• Conducting verification and validation through trials and lab tests.

Across the Systems Engineering domain, we offer exposure to a wide variety of different technologies, engineering methodologies, and customer needs associated with specific products or capabilities.

This role is suited to those that enjoy the creativity and practicality of working with problems to arrive at logical solutions.

What’s great about this role?

Our Systems Design function will support you to become a fully integrated member of the team with the opportunity to assume an increasing level of responsibility. We offer varied roles with scope to choose placements based on interests and skills.

Our people are adaptable and the role is varied and fast paced – Innovation is a company value that we practice the most.

Systems Engineers work with people across all engineering fields and business teams, meeting suppliers and customers and engaging with international MBDA colleagues. There is also opportunity to travel both within the UK and potentially internationally.

What we’re looking for from you

Currently studying towards a degree in an Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Maths, Technology, Computing or General Science discipline.

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.