Manufacturing Test Engineer - Graduate Programme 2027

MBDA UK; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave 25 days

Healthcare plan

Pension up to 14%

Company bonus up to £2,500

Job summary

MBDA UK is seeking a Manufacturing Test Engineer on the 2027 Graduate Programme. You’ll rotate across three placements, supporting testing and programming of complex systems across electronics, optics, RF, and mechatronics, with hands-on shop floor work and office documentation.

As an undergraduate in one of the listed disciplines, you’ll join a hybrid role with on-site duties most of the time and occasional home working. Competitive salary and benefits apply.

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate with a minimum 2.2 in an Engineering discipline.
• Discipline options include Aerospace, Electrical & Electronic, General Engineering, Physics & Astronomy, Product Design or Production & Manufacturing Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and fault find non-conforming products or equipment.
• Draft and publish drawing packs and instructions.
• Analyse test and production related data.
• Support introduction of new products and equipment into process improvements.

Skills

Test engineering basics

Electronics & RF

Mechatronics

Drafting & drawings

Education

Aerospace Engineering

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

General Engineering

Physics & Astronomy

Product Design

Production & Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Manufacturing Test Engineer - Graduate Programme 2027

Join the MBDA team and become a key player in ensuring our top-notch manufacturing standards! As a Test Engineer, you'll collaborate with expert engineers across the UK, working on a range of cutting-edge technologies including electronics, optics, and RF. Your hands-on approach, combined with office-based technical work, will see you play a pivotal role in maintaining MBDA's excellence. From drafting drawings to introducing new equipment, process improvements are at the heart of what you'll do, all while contributing to the successful testing and programming of complex systems.

Salary: £31,900 starting salary plus a £3000 joining bonus.

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: Typically a Test Engineer will spend 90% of their time on-site, working a day every couple of weeks from home if desired, as the type of work permits.

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 2nd November 2026 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.

What we can offer you:

• 2 year Programme: Starting September 2027
• Annual Salary Review
• 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.
• 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: Manufacturing Test have engineers deployed across three of our UK sites supporting the manufacturing process throughout the whole build cycle from sub-systems to the final product for launch platforms and weapon systems. We support the testing and programming of systems, from circuit cards through to missiles; working with varied technologies including, but not limited to, electronics, mechatronics, optics and RF.

Within Manufacturing Test Engineering you’ll be working within a team of Engineers who have varied experiences and expertise, who work together to support a set of equipment.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn from these Engineers throughout your graduate scheme as you progress through three placements, each with a different team.

Test Engineers work closely with several collaborative functions such as Product Design, Test Equipment Design, Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Assurance to support our key customer, Manufacturing Operations.

As a Test Engineer you’ll play a meaningful role in maintaining MBDA’s reputation for quality, by working to ensure that every product leaving our manufacturing facility meets the high standards expected by the company and our customers.

Daily activities for a Test Engineer vary from working hands on with the product on the shop floor and in the lab, to working in the office on technical documentation and drawings.

Our regular activities include:

• Diagnosing and fault finding non-conforming products or equipment
• Authoring instructions and/or specifications
• Drafting and publishing drawing packs
• Analysing test and production related data
• Introducing new products and equipment into Manufacturing Process improvements

What we’re looking for from you:

Current undergraduate studying for a degree in one of the following disciplines, minimum 2.2.

• Aerospace Engineering
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• General Engineering & Engineering Design
• Physics & Astronomy
• Product Design
• Production & Manufacturing Engineering

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...

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.