Major Equipment Procurement - Graduate Programme 2026

MBDA; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organisation in the UK is offering a Major Equipment Procurement Graduate Programme for 2026. The program provides crucial project management and supplier engagement experience within a collaborative team environment. Candidates should possess a degree (minimum 2:2) and a passion for defense procurement. The hybrid role includes varying on-site work requirements and offers a competitive salary with various benefits, including bonuses and career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension contributions up to 14%

25 days annual leave plus additional flexi leave

Excellent career progression opportunities

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Qualifications

• Experience in managing supplier contracts and obligations.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative business relationships.
• Capacity to provide commercial guidance to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage critical supplier subcontracts effectively.
• Support negotiation and implementation of sub-contracts.
• Ensure delivery of high value sub-systems on time and within budget.

Skills

Project management

Supplier relationship management

Negotiation

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree qualified in any discipline to a minimum of 2:2

Job description

Overview

Major Equipment Procurement - Graduate Programme 2026

Are you passionate about executing and managing critical and complex supplier subcontracts? In Major Equipment Procurement (MEP) we work collaboratively with our suppliers around the world, enabling MBDA to provide world leading defence capabilities for our home Nations and their Allies.

Salary: £31,500 plus a £3000 joining bonus

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 1-3 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.

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS ROLE IS MIDNIGHT ON 3RD NOVEMBER 2025

What we can offer you

• 2 year Programme: starting September 2026
• Salary reviews throughout the Programme
• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (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
• Excellent career progression and development opportunities Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

The opportunity

Upon joining our team, you will conduct placements within MEP. You'll undertake a role supporting the preparation, negotiation, implementation and performance of sub-contracts across the entire life cycle of missiles and missile systems. You'll ensure that contracts are effectively managed to time, cost, and quality resulting in the delivery of high value and sophisticated sub-systems. Providing commercial guidance to internal customers, whilst managing risk and opportunity to safeguard the interests of MBDA, will be another skill that you'll develop. The role will involve

• Pro-actively managing critical supplier subcontracts and obligations
• Developing and maintaining long term, open, collaborative and commercially robust business relationships with suppliers
• Project management of supplier programmes to ensure the on time, on cost, on quality delivery of bespoke high value / complexity sub-systems and services

The MEP role is unique and exciting, requiring a combination of commercial expertise and project management skills to lead business relationships with strategic worldwide suppliers. This role will require some level of travel (potentially internationally, depending upon the project placements you are assigned to).

Key aspects of the role

• Subcontract Management (including drafting, amending, negotiating and managing terms and conditions) in accordance with applicable legislation and company processes – you will have the opportunity to learn this “on the job”
• Building and nurturing supplier and key stakeholder relationships
• Leading in the internal Multi-Functional Team responsible for the delivery of a sub-contract (consisting of Technical, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Project Management)
• Holding the Supplier to account for their performance and resolving any issues / conflicts (hardware, services and documentation)
• Providing commercial guidance to internal stakeholders
• Generating and implementing supplier strategies that deliver value for money
• Risk and opportunity management
• Safeguarding the interests of MBDA

What we're looking for from you

Degree qualified in any discipline to a minimum of 2:2

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.

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