Guidance, Control and Navigation Engineer Placement 2027

MBDA; Filton; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Pension (up to 14%)

Overtime available

Healthcare plan

25 days leave

Flexi leave

Site facilities

Job summary

MBDA is offering a 1-year placement in our Guidance, Control and Navigation (GCN) team. You will apply university learning to real projects in a high-technology defence environment on-site in the UK.

You'll work across four areas—Guidance, Control, Navigation and Command & Control—learning autopilot, sensor fusion and data-driven techniques while using MATLAB/SIMULINK daily and collaborating with international teams.

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate studying towards a degree in Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Engineering or Computing.

Responsibilities

• Learn across Guidance, Control, Navigation and Command & Control areas.
• Collaborate with engineering teams across propulsion, aerodynamics, sensors and actuators.
• Develop skills in MATLAB/SIMULINK daily.
• Support data fusion and autonomous decision-making research.

Education

Undergraduate degree in Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Engineering or Computing

Tools

MATLAB/SIMULINK

Job description

The algorithms we design in Guidance, Control and Navigation (GCN) lie at the heart of all of the highly complex MBDA missile and weapon systems. We're involved in every phase of the product's life cycle, from concept through to service.

Salary: £24,460

Dynamic working: 5 days per week on-site due to workload classification

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.

What we can offer you:

• 1 year placement: starting September 2027, that allows you to apply your university learning to real-world projects and technologies
• Perform well on your placement and you could secure a graduate role before your final year
• 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:

In this role, you'll build your skills across our four specialist areas;

• Guidance - figuring out a suitable trajectory, providing an effective route to target interception and improving the probability of defeating a target
• Control - designing and tuning autopilot algorithms, for various control surfaces, to maintain stable flight dynamics and achieve the guidance demands
• Navigation - estimating the current missile state (position, velocity and altitude/orientation) using measurements from a range of on-board sensors
• Command and Control - designing weapon-system level algorithms to track and evaluate incoming threats, plan engagements, and provide additional mission context to the operator

This is a great environment and opportunity to learn, broadening your technical knowledge of the design and function of a complex weapon system through visibility of a wide range of work; from researching and developing futuristic technologies through to being on the design team for current high-profile projects.

Join a supportive and experienced team who will encourage you to develop your skills in coding and modelling, mathematics, flight dynamics and control theory – as well as utilising tools such as MATLAB/SIMULINK daily.

You’ll experience a variety of activities in this role, which could include:

• Integrated navigation, such as 'Terrain Reference Navigation', 'GPS integration', and ‘Image Based Navigation'
• Autopilot and control system design and analysis, including dual-mode control, thrust vector control, etc.
• Algorithms for mid-course guidance, terminal guidance, target tracking and selectivity
• Data fusion to combine data from multiple sensors. For example, radars, seekers, IMUs, etc.
• Implementing AI techniques including neural networks and deep learning to improve traditional GCN algorithms and solve new challenges
• Designing autonomous decision-making systems for use in complex collective missions.

Work collaboratively across engineering teams to develop your understanding of propulsion, aerodynamics, seekers, sensors and actuators, and how these technologies integrate within a complex missile system. Experience working within one of the many international teams in MBDA, with the GCN function in Paris and Rome – This doesn't necessarily equate to travel but you may be offered the option where the opportunity arises.

What we're looking for from you:

• Current undergraduate studying towards a degree in Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Engineering or Computing 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.

Apply

This role is scheduled to close for applications at midnight on Monday 4th January 2027 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.