Engineering Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship 2026

MBDA; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organization is offering an Engineering Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship starting in 2026 at their Stevenage location. The apprenticeship includes paid travel expenses, a starting salary of £18,750 plus a £3,000 joining bonus, and a fully funded qualification from Cambridge Regional College. Candidates should possess a minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths, with further qualifications also required for entry.

Benefits

Fully funded qualification

Paid travel expenses

Annual pay reviews

25 days annual leave

Study leave during exam periods

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 including English, Maths grade 5 and above, and any Science or Technology subject.
• Achieved 96 UCAS Tariff points through A Levels, BTEC, or T-Level.
• Capable of meeting specific entry criteria for the role.

Responsibilities

• Study towards a Level 4 Diploma Engineering Manufacturing Technician.
• Engage in rotational placements within different departments.
• Complete one day per week of college education.

Skills

English Language

Mathematics

Science or Technology subject

Education

5 GCSE's at grades 9-4

3 x A levels at minimum grade C including Maths

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

T-Level in Engineering

Job description

Overview

Engineering Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship 2026

Salary: £18,750 plus a £3,000 joining bonus

Work Location: MBDA Stevenage

Learning Provider Location: Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge Campus

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: Midnight on 23 January 2026 (subject to application volumes)

What we can offer you

• Fully funded qualification starting September 2026
• Paid travel expenses to and from your place of study
• Annual pay reviews
• 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
• Study leave during exam periods

The opportunity

At MBDA, we inspire team innovation to solve some of the biggest challenges. This means you\'ll learn from the brightest minds, who are always there to encourage and support you.

Our collaborative approach and culture of sharing knowledge will be key to your development. We trust each other to thrive; support one another to learn, and when you join us, you\'ll bring a different perspective to how we see the future.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to join an apprenticeship scheme that has developed winners of some of the most prestigious apprenticeship awards in the UK. As an Engineering Apprentice you will work in an open-plan working environment with state of the art testing and manufacturing facilities and laboratories aimed at aiding your learning and development.

Programme structure

You will study towards a Level 4 Diploma Engineering Manufacturing Technician at Cambridge Regional College, with a blend of virtual and face to face delivery, and work within our business on rotational placements for 4 years. This way of studying allows you to earn academic and nationally recognised qualifications as well as gain hands on learning experience within a professional and friendly workplace. We will also help you to achieve Professional qualification through the IMechE, IET or RAeS.

You will be at college 1 day per week learning your basic skills with your remaining time spent on placements, typically lasting three to six months.

Placements within the business include;

• Mechanical Design
• Missile Design incl. Hardware-In-The-Loop
• Manufacturing
• Integration and Systems Validation
• Customer Support
• Environmental Engineering
• Quality
• Procurement
• Drawing Office

Find more details about the course here:

https://www.camre.ac.uk/course/engineering-manufacturing-technician-level-4-apprenticeship-standard/APPEMT4S/

What we\'re looking for from you

This role has specific qualification and subject criteria so please make sure you carefully check your eligibility against this criteria before applying otherwise your application will not be considered. If you are currently studying and predicted to meet these requirements by the start date you are welcome to apply.

GCSEs:

A minimum of 5 GCSE\'s at grades 9-4

This must include:

• English Language
• Mathematics - Grade 5 and above
• Any Science or Technology subject

After GCSEs:

After your GCSEs you must have completed one of the following and achieved 96 UCAS Tariff points:

• 3 x A levels at minimum grade C including Maths
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma at a minimum grade of MMM including a Distinction in Further Maths module.
• T-Level at Pass, Merit or Distinction in an Engineering subject

Please note: We look at entry criteria based on your top three full A Levels or equivalent qualifications (BTEC/T Level). We do not include UCAS points gained from an Extended Project Qualification. Additionally, as an employer we set our own entry criteria based on the requirements of this role. This means that the criteria above may differ from the university.

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.