Manufacturing Engineering Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship 2026

MBDA S.A.S.; Hulton Lane Ends; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organisation in the United Kingdom is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer Apprentice to support product manufacturing and assembly. This role includes a fully funded BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Greater Manchester. Candidates must have strong qualifications in Maths, English, and Science subjects. Opportunities for practical experience and development in a supportive environment await successful applicants.

Benefits

Paid travel expenses

Annual pay reviews

25 days annual leave with flexi leave

Study leave during exam periods

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 GCSE's at grades 9-4 including English Language and Mathematics.
• Completion of 3 A levels including Maths and either Physics or a Technology/Engineering subject.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering with a Distinction in Further Maths module.

Responsibilities

• Support operations in building and manufacturing products.
• Design tooling required for product assembly.
• Develop new manufacturing processes.

Skills

Mathematics

Physics

Engineering Principles

Education

5 GCSE's at grades 9-4 including English Language and Mathematics

3 A levels including Maths and either Physics or a Technology/Engineering subject

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering at minimum grade DDM

Job description

Benefits

• Paid travel expenses to and from your place of study
• Annual pay reviews
• 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
• Study leave during exam periods

The opportunity At MBDA, we inspire team innovation to tackle some of our biggest challenges. This means you’ll learn from the brightest minds, who are always there to encourage and support you. Our collaborative approach and culture of sharing knowledge will be key to your development. We trust each other to thrive and support one another to learn, meaning when you join us, you’ll bring a different perspective to how we see the future! Manufacturing Engineering is part of the Operations directorate based at our Manufacturing Centre of Excellence. Manufacturing consists of Assembly, Integration and Test of all our products for the company. The products we make are delivered directly to the customer/end user and therefore manufacturing is imperative to the delivery aspects of MBDA’s business. Manufacturing Engineers work closely with a range of teams to influence designs and are responsible for ‘how’ we build our products including:

Responsibilities

• Any tooling required to build our products.
• Instructions on how to build our products.
• The cost of manufacture of our products.
• The industrial validations of our production lines and our suppliers.
• Day-to-day support of our operators building our products.
• The architecture of the production lines.
• Developing new manufacturing processes.

Every single day for a Manufacturing Engineer is different, combining a mix of time spent on the shop floor and office based working. There are also opportunities to travel to other MBDA sites and countries, plus visiting suppliers. In Manufacturing, you are not only able to see, but also be part of the realisation of our products.

Programme structure

For the 4.5 years whilst you are an Apprentice, you’ll study 1 day a week towards a BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering at University of Greater Manchester, which will be fully funded by MBDA. You’ll do rotational placements for the remainder of the week, allowing you to earn an academic and nationally recognised qualification, whilst gaining on the job learning experience within a professional and friendly workplace. When you are not at university, you will be on the job, training and understanding the role of a Manufacturing Engineer. Your placements will be in different manufacturing engineering teams, with potential opportunities to do placements at other MBDA sites.

Example of placements

• Circuit Card Assembly
• Seekers and Datalinks
• Inert Missile
• Actuators and Control Equipment
• Platform Equipment and Cables

Throughout your programme you’ll be completing assignments and sitting exams for your university studies. There will also be incredible opportunities to bring your technical knowledge to schools and colleges as a STEM ambassador - making handling your diary the key requirement for balancing your work load. Find more details about the course here: https://greatermanchester.ac.uk/course/beng-hons-mechanical-engineering-level-6-manufacturing-engineer-degree-apprenticeship-st0025-part-time-60-months-university-of-bolton/2026-27

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to join an apprenticeship scheme that has developed winners of some of the most prestigious apprenticeship awards in the UK!

This role has specific qualification and subject criteria so please make sure you carefully check your eligibility against this criteria before applying otherwise your application will not be considered. If you are currently studying and predicted to meet these requirements by the start date you are welcome to apply.

GCSEs: A minimum of 5 GCSE's at grades 9‑4 This must include:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Any Science or Technology subject

After GCSEs: After your GCSEs you must have completed one of the following and achieved 120 UCAS Tariff points:

• 3 x A levels including Maths and either Physics or a Technology/Engineering subject. Applicants must have achieved grades A to C. Grades below a C will not be considered.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering at a minimum grade of DDM including a Distinction in Further Maths module.
• T‑Level at Merit or Distinction in an Engineering subject

Please note: We look at entry criteria based on your top three full A Levels or equivalent qualifications (BTEC/T Level). We do not include UCAS points gained from an Extended Project Qualification. Additionally, as an employer we set our own entry criteria based on the requirements of this role. This means that the criteria above may differ from the university.

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.