Human Factors Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2027

MBDA UK; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Pension up to 14%

Overtime opportunities

25 days annual leave + option to buy

Flexi leave up to 15 days

Subsidised meals and on-site parking

Healthcare cash plan

Job summary

MBDA UK is offering a Human Factors Engineer - Undergraduate Placement for 2027 in Stevenage. The role focuses on applying User Centred Design and Human Factors Integration to reduce risks and improve operator health, safety and comfort across the lifecycle.

The placement runs as a 1-year program with a salary of £24,460, and a flexible working model allowing some home working while often requiring onsite access to facilities and data.

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate pursuing a degree in a relevant discipline (see above).
• Interest in Human Factors / User Centred Design and integration of UX principles.
• Willingness to work onsite to access facilities, data and personnel.

Responsibilities

• Apply Human Factors and User Centred Design to identify and resolve risks and opportunities across the product lifecycle.
• Support planning and execution of User Experiments with military users on prototypes and systems.
• Carry out research tasks to provide actionable recommendations and solutions.
• Conduct workspace assessments and anthropometric modelling tasks.
• Design and prototype Human Computer Interface / Human Machine Interface concepts.
• Support the development of technologies such as Virtual Reality and AI in future systems.
• Write reports and create presentations on areas worked on.

Education

Undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Psychology, Engineering, User Centred Design, User Experience Design, Ergonomics/Human Factors, Product Design, Systems Engineering, Cognitive Science or Human Sciences

Job description

Human Factors Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2027

The future represents an increasingly dynamic, complex and challenging environment for our military operators. As a Human Factors Engineer, you will apply User Centred Design and Human Factors Integration to effectively identify and resolve human related risks, issues and opportunities, throughout the product lifecycle. The aim of the Human Factors Team is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our products as well as the health, safety, and comfort of our operators.

Salary: £24,460

Dynamic working: 3 to 4 days per week.

The team operates a flexible working model allowing you to work at home where it is possible, however the nature of the job will often require you to be onsite to access specific facilities, personnel or data.

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 4th January 2027 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.

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
• 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...
• 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.

The opportunity: The placement is an opportunity for you to develop an appreciation for how people interact with complex equipment and systems from a physical, cognitive and physiological perspective.

Examples of day-to-day activities are provided below.

• Taking a Human Centred Design approach to the development of complex systems
• Supporting the planning and conduct of User Experimentation and trials with military users on prototype through to real weapon system equipment and software.
• Carrying out individual research tasks, to provide recommendations and solve problems.
• Conducting workspace assessments and anthropometric modelling tasks.
• Designing and prototyping Human Computer Interface / Human Machine Interface concepts.
• Supporting the development and application of technologies, such as Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence, in future systems.
• Writing reports and creating presentations on areas you’ve been working on.

What we’re looking for from you:

• Current undergraduate studying towards a degree in Psychology, Engineering, User Centred Design, User Experience Design, Ergonomics/Human Factors, Product Design, Systems Engineering, Cognitive Science or Human Sciences 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.

What we do matters. Because defence matters.

As a leading company in the defence industry we support our nations by delivering essential military capabilities, both for today and the future. We are proud to be an award-winning employer and are proud of the growing diversity of our workforce. Our people are the ones who drive our constant innovation and deliver against challenging targets. Whatever your background, we welcome your application to MBDA UK and look forward to speaking with you soon.