Safety and Reliability Engineer - Summer Placement Programme 2026

MBDA; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organisation in the United Kingdom is offering a Summer Placement Programme for a Safety and Reliability Engineer. This 10-week placement starting in June 2026 allows candidates to engage with real-world projects in the Defence sector. Responsibilities include supporting product development and applying safety and reliability engineering techniques. Ideal candidates are pursuing a degree in an engineering-related field. The position offers a pro-rated salary of £23,495 and hybrid working conditions, alongside various employee benefits.

Benefits

Pension contribution up to 14%

Paid overtime opportunities

5 days annual leave

Subsidised meals

Free car parking

Qualifications

• Working towards a degree in Electronics, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Physics.

Responsibilities

• Gain experience in Safety and Reliability Engineering within the Defence sector.
• Support product development across different phases.
• Experience Safety and Reliability Engineering techniques and best practices.
• Build relationships with stakeholders to ensure product safety and reliability.

Skills

Hazard Analysis

Failure Mode Effects & Criticality Analysis

Fault Tree Analysis

Safety or Reliability Case Reports

Education

Pursuing a degree in a technical or engineering-related discipline

Job description

Job Description

Safety and Reliability Engineer - Summer Placement Programme 2026

The Safety and Reliability Department are involved in the development of all the Products MBDA produces and are responsible for providing our customers with the evidence and assurance that our Products meet the required levels of Safety and Reliability.

Salary: £23,495 pro-rated

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 3-4 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 5TH JANUARY 2026 (SUBJECT TO APPLICATION VOLUMES)

What we can offer you

• 10 week placement: starting June 2026, that allows you to apply your university learning to real-world projects and technologies
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Annual Leave: 5 days
• Facilities: fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more...

The opportunity

The Safety and Reliability Department are in the fortunate position to support all areas of the business to ensure all the products MBDA produces are safe to use and provide a reliable performance to the Armed Forces who protect our nations.

Safety and Reliability Engineers are responsible for assessing and assuring the safety and reliability aspects of the inherently lethal attributes required of complex weapon systems (specialisation in either safety or reliability could be supported, but the preference is to fully develop skills in both areas). Successful candidates will:

• Gain experience in Safety and Reliability Engineering within the Defence sector.
• Experience and support product development across the different phases; from product conception through testing and trials to manufacture and customer delivery.
• Experience of Safety and Reliability Engineering techniques and best practice. For example: Hazard Analysis, Failure Mode Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Safety or Reliability Case Reports.
• Have opportunities to build and secure a network with other stakeholders within and outside of MBDA (for example: Supporting design teams to deliver safe and reliable products on time and on cost, implementing business processes with guidance from Guided Weapon Safety Officers or Technical Experts, facilitating or attending Customer Safety Panel meetings or Community of Practice events).

What we’re looking for from you

Working towards a degree in technical or engineering-related discipline, such as Electronics, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or Physics.

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.