Engineering Support - Undergraduate Placement 2026

MBDA; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organization in the UK seeks an Undergraduate in Customer Support and Services for a one-year placement starting September 2026. This role involves working directly with the Royal Navy, Army, and Air Force while gaining hands-on experience in engineering support, troubleshooting, and development tasks. Candidates should be pursuing a degree in an Engineering discipline and demonstrate a good understanding of engineering principles and communication skills. A hybrid working model is offered, with a salary of £23,495.

Benefits

Company bonus based on performance

Pension contribution up to 14%

25 days annual leave plus options to purchase extra holiday

Overtime opportunities

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Qualifications

• Understanding of engineering principles and ability to communicate with technical/non-technical people.

Responsibilities

• Work on design, development, troubleshooting, and repair tasks.
• Gain hands-on experience through structured training in the defence sector.

Skills

Engineering principles

Clear communication

Education

Working towards a degree in an Engineering discipline

Job description

Engineering Support - Undergraduate 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

• 1 year placement: starting September 2026, allowing 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
• 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

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 year‑long 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: 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