Software Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

MBDA; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense organization in Bristol is offering a Software Engineer - Undergraduate Placement for 2026. The role entails applying university learning in real-world projects, covering various programming languages including C, C++, C#, and Java. Candidates will gain exposure to software development lifecycle and collaborate in multi-national challenges. The position offers a competitive salary, hybrid working model, and employee benefits like annual leave and bonuses.

Benefits

Company bonus based on performance

Pension contribution up to 14%

Opportunity for paid overtime

25 days annual leave plus extra holiday options

Subsidised meals and free parking

Qualifications

• Currently studying towards a degree in Engineering, Computing, Maths, Physics or Astronomy.
• Ability to collaborate with others on software projects.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Deliver software for next generation weapon systems.
• Work closely with teams during various development stages.
• Learn about functional and technical robustness of deliverables.

Skills

C

C++

C#

Java

Team collaboration

Technical documentation

Education

Studying towards a degree in Engineering or related fields

Job description

Overview

Bristol

Software Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 4-5 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.

What we can offer you

• 1 year placement: starting September 2026, 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

The opportunity

The Software team at MBDA deliver software for the next generation of weapons in an ever evolving environment to support those on the battlefield! Our teams provide a range of products from high integrity real time software running on our weapon systems, software infrastructures (i.e. DevOps) and production test software to support functional test & manufacturing. We use a variety of programming languages, software tools and software lifecycle methodologies to achieve this.

You will get exposure to aspects of a software development lifecycle, a chance to collaborate with others in the annual multi-national Software Engineering Challenge and opportunities to travel. Enabling you to develop some of the skills necessary to become a well-rounded software engineer.

• Work closely with other teams in a variety of development stages within our weapons systems including both embedded and front end software development on a range of platforms, such as Windows and Linux, utilising C, C++, C# and Java.

• Learn about the functional and technical robustness of project deliverables

• The importance of technical documentation.

• Work with other departments within the company, learning a general overview of the business.

What we're looking for from you

Currently studying towards a degree in Engineering (incl. General, Mechanical, Manufacturing/Production, Aeronautical/Aerospace, Electrical/Electronic, and Software), Computing, Maths, Physics or Astronomy 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.