Engineering Support - Summer Placement 2026

MBDA UK Ltd; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organization is seeking an Engineering Support Undergraduate for a summer placement in Stevenage. This role involves working closely with the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force, gaining hands-on experience in ensuring products are ready for action. You will engage in various responsibilities including design influence and technical issue resolution while receiving structured training. This placement offers a unique opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a practical setting within the defense sector.

Benefits

10 week placement

Pension contribution up to 14%

Opportunity for paid overtime

5 days annual leave

Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals and free parking

Qualifications

• Good understanding of engineering principles and ability to communicate them clearly.

Responsibilities

• Work on design, development, troubleshooting, and repair tasks.
• Gain hands-on technical experience in the defence sector.
• Provide placements that encompass both technical engineering and customer interaction.

Skills

Understanding of engineering principles

Clear communication skills

Education

Working towards a degree in Engineering discipline

Job description

Engineering Support - Summer Placement 2026

As an Undergraduate in Customer Support and Services (CSS) you will play a crucial role in ensuring our products are ready for action whenever our customers need them. Alongside your primary role at our sites in the UK, you'll have the opportunity to visit and interact directly with the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force, gaining hands‑on experience with all the support you need.

Your placement within our department could be at any point in the CADMID cycle; it could be working on a current development programme where you would be influencing the design of the System. Or it could be supporting an In‑Service product, working to ensure the system remains operational with anything from resolving technical issues with the Design Team to supporting maintenance activities.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 2-3 days per week on‑site

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

• 10 week placement: starting June 2026, that allows you to apply your university learning to real‑world projects and technologies
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Annual Leave: 5 days
• Facilities: fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more...

The Opportunity

Our role within MBDA is unique - we support the development and delivery of the whole Weapon System; our mission is to understand everything that the user needs!

Every single system that MBDA delivers, from Meteor to Sea Viper, requires support to ensure that the Missile and surrounding systems remain operational for many years to come. CSS are the team at MBDA that make this happen; you will be a part of the team that makes this happen.

Your placement could be at any point in the CADMID cycle; for example, you could be working on a current development programme influencing the design of the System to ensure that it is supportable from the very first delivery. Or you could be resolving technical queries with the Design Team.

Throughout the placement, you will gain hands‑on technical experience, bridging the gap between classroom learning and practical application in the defence sector. Throughout all of this we'll make sure you receive structured training and support relevant for the role.

This placement is like no other - where else could you go from assisting in a workshop one week to assisting with repair activities on a ship the next?

What will you gain?

• Work on a mix of design, development, troubleshooting, and repair tasks, gaining practical experience on a live Project with real impact across the entire product lifecycle.
• You will be analysing operational scenarios to ensure our Systems can be used in the ‘real world’ and not just in models or laboratories. This goes beyond the analysis of technical documentation and into direct contact with the Armed Forces to reflect their experiences back into our Products.
• You will develop essential engineering skills as well as a broad understanding of how MBDA interacts with our customers. CSS excels in being able to provide placements that encompass both technical engineering as well as the opportunity to learn how a global player in the Defence Industry operates.
• CSS is one of the few departments within MBDA that communicates at all levels within the business, as well as externally to all of our Customers. This unique opportunity will enhance your communication skills; requiring you to tailor your conversations based on your audience and your objective.

What we're looking for from you

• Working towards a degree in an Engineering discipline.
• A good understanding of engineering principles and the ability to communicate them clearly with both technical and non‑technical people.

Our company

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, X, Instagram and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.

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