Digital Excellence Business Graduate Programme 2027

Higherin; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus

25 Days Annual Leave

Dynamic Working

Enhanced Parental Leave

Pension & Finance

Job summary

MBDA's Digital Excellence Business Graduate Scheme offers two years of diverse placements across Change Management, Project Management, Business Architecture, Digital Factory, AI & Data Strategy. You will work with experienced professionals on real business and digital challenges, developing capabilities and stakeholder management skills within a global defence organisation.

You will gain breadth to identify your strengths while building a long-term career, with on-site and hybrid working

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in one of the listed disciplines with a minimum 2.2.
• Strong analytical and planning skills, plus stakeholder engagement ability.
• Interest in technology and digital trends to drive change.

Responsibilities

• Support Digital Excellence projects across multiple placements.
• Contribute to change management, project delivery and business architecture.
• Collaborate with specialists and stakeholders to shape digital solutions.

Skills

Degree disciplines

Curiosity about organisations

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Join MBDA's Digital Excellence Business Graduate Scheme and develop your knowledge in the business capabilities that help MBDA deliver digital change, improve how we work and make the most of emerging technology.

Salary: £31,900 plus a £3000 joining bonus

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: You can expect to be onsite for 2 to 3 days of the week

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.

This role is scheduled to close for applications at midnight on Monday 2nd November 2026 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.

The opportunity

• Digital Excellence brings together the capabilities that help shape MBDA's digital environment from managing change and delivering projects to defining business architecture and exploring how AI and data can support better decisions and new ways of working.
• Over two years, you'll complete four six-month placements, giving you broad exposure to different areas of Digital Excellence while developing your business, strategic and stakeholder management skills within a complex international organisation. Some of these placements could include: Change Management, Project Management, Business Architecture, Digital Factory, AI & Data Strategy.
• Throughout your placements, you'll work alongside experienced specialists and contribute to real business and digital challenges. You could be supporting a major change initiative, coordinating project activity, analysing business needs, helping shape a digital product or contributing to the development of MBDA's AI & data strategies.

With support from experienced colleagues, you'll develop skills in:

• Managing and supporting digital change
• Planning and delivering projects and programmes
• Understanding business needs, capabilities and processes
• Developing business architecture and strategic thinking
• Working with digital products, innovation and emerging technology
• Understanding the opportunities and challenges of AI and data
• Collaborating with technical specialists, business teams and senior stakeholders
• Presenting and communicating ideas clearly
• Building relationships across an international organisation

The scheme is designed to give you the breadth to discover where your strengths and interests lie, alongside the experience to build a long-term career within Digital Excellence. More important than already knowing exactly which business or digital career you want is having the curiosity and ambition to explore different areas and develop your expertise.

What we're looking for from you

Degree qualified in one of the following disciplines, to a minimum 2.2:

• Business and Management
• Change Management
• Project Management
• Business Analysis
• Economics
• Engineering (any specialism)
• Information Systems
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Mathematics

We're looking for graduates who are curious about how organisations work and passionate about using digital capabilities to create positive change.

This role is ideally suited to someone who:

• Enjoys solving problems and understanding how things work
• Is interested in technology, business and emerging digital trends
• Has strong analytical, organisational and planning skills
• Is curious and willing to learn
• Can communicate ideas clearly to different audiences
• Enjoys collaborating with others and building relationships
• Can manage competing priorities and take ownership of your work

Digital capability plays a critical role in enabling our people and our business to succeed. Within Digital Excellence, you'll have the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges, learn from specialists across a wide range of disciplines and help shape the change, projects, strategies and digital solutions that will support MBDA now and into the future.

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.

Application Process

1. Submit an application

Our application form contains a few factual questions, some questions relating to the role you have applied for and a section for you to tell us all about you!

2. Online assessment - Part One

Next in our process is part one of our online strengths assessment, completely tailored to our business and early careers schemes. After completing our assessment you'll receive a personalised report.

3. Online assessment - Part Two

Part two of our online assessments include three video recorded tasks which are authentic work scenario based activities which you could be doing on your programme - we refer to these as job simulations.

4. Assessment centre

Our strength based assessment centre is a half day virtual experience! You’ll get to work on a range of tasks, meet current programme members and people from the department you have applied for. All candidates receive feedback on their performance.

5. Offer

We’ll call you within a week of your assessment day to talk through your feedback and the finer details of your offer, as well as next steps.

Benefits & Rewards

• Annual Bonus: Every year we reward our dedicated employees with an annual bonus. Exact amounts and percentages will vary by job grade and on business performance. This can be discussed/explained further with a member of the Resourcing team during your application process. We are proud to say that we were able to award our annual bonus to employees even through tough economic times in recent years, when other employers were less fortunate.
• 25 Days Annual Leave (plus holiday purchase): Employees receive 25 days of paid annual leave per calendar year, in addition to all statutory and public holidays. After 5, 10 and 15 years of service, an additional day of annual leave is added to your allowance at each of these milestones. You can also enjoy more time off by purchasing up to an additional five days holiday through payroll.
• Dynamic Working: We trust our people to agree, within their teams, where and when they can be most effective. Our Dynamic Working policies allow individuals great levels of flexibility around the hours they work and where they work. Depending on your role and function, this may include options for paid overtime, dynamic leave (time in lieu) and more. When applying, please check the job advert for details, then make sure to discuss what to expect with your recruiter.
• Enhanced Parental Leave: We recognise that having or adopting a child is a significant life event for our employees and as a family friendly employer we offer a range of enhanced family leave provisions to support employees before, during and after a period of leave. Our 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. We also offer 2 weeks enhanced pay for paternity leave, and neonatal care leave for up to 12 weeks where a period of extended hospital care is required after birth. Employees also have access to support whilst undergoing fertility testing and treatments.
• Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers: Discounts – The Discounts platform includes a great range of features such as: discounts, instant vouchers, reloadable cards, easy saver cards, cashback, mobile app and Wellbeing Centre. Costco - Permanent employees of MBDA qualify for Costco’s individual membership. Technology Vouchers – Purchase the latest gadgets and white goods up to the value of £2,500 and spread the cost over 12 months. Charity Donations - Donate up to five charities each month, with full tax relief on all donations. MyCar Scheme – The MBDA MyCar Scheme offers employees the opportunity to access up to two new vehicles via a salary sacrifice arrangement including an all-inclusive package. Holiday Purchase – Purchase up to 5 days' extra holiday whilst making tax and National Insurance savings, spreading the cost over 12 months.
• Gyms & Social Clubs: Healthworks Gym Membership - The Healthworks on-site gym at our Stevenage site offers a range of facilities and equipment, alongside a variety of classes available during the week. Annual Gym Membership – Take advantage of discounted membership at over 3,600 of the UK's leading gym chains, leisure centres, hotel health clubs, independent gyms, boot camps and yoga studios. The Club –The Club provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy great social activities - from theatre trips, days out, to sporting activities.
• Pension & Finance: Our MBDA Retirement Savings Plan is a 'Defined Contribution' plan in the Mercer Master Trust. The standard contributions are 4% of an employee's base salary and 6% employer contributions. You can increase both employee and employer contributions by up to 2%. Financial Awareness – Employees have access to free financial webinars hosted throughout the year, along with access to a financial education website which provides plenty of useful hints, tips and guidance on managing financial wellness. Share Incentive Plan - Acquire shares in our UK Shareholder, BAE Systems PLC, the scheme is tax efficient on shares purchased. Mortgage Advice – As part of our financial wellbeing initiative employees can access free of charge mortgage advice and webinars. Season Ticket Loan – Employees can borrow the value of public transport season ticket for bus or train journeys to and from work and spread the cost over 12 months. Critical Illness – To help reduce the financial impact after being diagnosed with a critical illness, employees receive a tax-free lump sum payment that can be used for any purpose including covering medical expenses, adjustments to lifestyle and more.
• Share Incentive Plan: The Share Incentive Plan (SIP) is available for you to join and reinforces our commitment to long-term share ownership amongst our employees.
• Free Financial Advice: We know money matters in life, so we want to make sure our employees are both paid what they deserve, and also have access to resources that can help them plan for the future. Through selected partnerships, we offer a range of free seminars, held throughout the year, to help you make good financial decisions for now and the future.
• Extracurricular Learning Budget: You can receive up to £150 towards the cost of approved courses each year including group language lessons.
• Health and Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme - The Employee Assistance Programme is free, independent, confidential and is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year. Employees have access to short‑term counselling (which includes up to 8 structured face to face, telephone or virtual sessions). Voluntary Private Medical Insurance – Private Medical Insurance offers three healthcare plans to suit your individual requirements for you and your family. Funded Private Medical Insurance - Eligible employees (Grade C & Above) are enrolled as standard into the company funded Private Medical Insurance benefit. Dental Insurance – The Dental Insurance benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday dental expenses such as, minor treatments, routine examinations, restorative treatment and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits. Healthcare Cash Plan - The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits. Healthcare and Leisure – The Healthcare and Leisure benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as medical fees, dentist fees, opticians and also provides access to special deals and concessions on sporting and recreational facilities.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Our employees' wellbeing is our priority. That's why everyone at MBDA UK can access free, confidential advice on a range of financial, personal and workplace issues, available 24/7.

Information

You’ll be able to choose between a variety of online learning platforms such as Percipio, YouLearn, Career Builder and Video Gateway. Each one is tailored to a specific type of learning. Speak to your line manager to find out more.

We encourage new learning and will provide up to £150 in financial support per year if you wish to participate in further study in your own time. You’ll have access to our Learning Gateway, which hosts the formal course catalogue and is where you can select the right training for your role and future development. The catalogue displays which courses are being delivered virtually or are classroom based. If you want to lead a team, you might be interested in our management training, designed for people of all experience levels.

The way we work is changing and your schedule will reflect that. For non-executive employees, we have a flexi-time scheme that allows you to choose, within certain parameters, when you start and finish each day and how you can use time you have accrued. If you have worked the time, you are also able to accrue and take up to 15 days of Flexi-leave per annum, in addition to the 25 days of annual leave provided and bank holidays.

All employees at MBDA are required to hold UK Security or BPSS Clearance.

For further information, please view our Security & Vetting page.