Systems Design Engineer - Graduate Programme 2026

MBDA UK Ltd; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense organization is offering a Systems Design Engineer position in Bristol for their 2026 Graduate Programme. This role involves working across all engineering disciplines, ensuring customer needs are met through innovative solutions. You will require a degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum 2:2 grade. The position offers a competitive salary, a joining bonus, and valuable career progression opportunities in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Annual Leave: 25 days plus option to purchase extra holiday

Company bonus up to £2,500 based on performance

Pension contribution up to 14%

Flexi Leave: up to 15 additional days

Paid overtime opportunities

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Qualifications

• Degree must be relevant and minimum 2:2 grade.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and ensure customer requirements are met.
• Work with various engineering methodologies and processes.
• Engage with international colleagues and suppliers.

Skills

Creativity

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Maths, Technology, Computing or General Science (minimum 2:2)

Job description

Overview

Systems Design Engineer - Graduate Programme 2026

Systems Design is at the heart of the product lifecycle, providing an opportunity to experience every phase of development and collaborate across all engineering disciplines. From researching novel technologies and identifying customer needs, through concept development and performance assessment, to product verification in lab tests and firing trials - Systems Design underpins it all.

Salary: £31,500 plus a £3,000 joining bonus

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 3-5 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.

Closing date: Midnight on 3 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

Systems Design engineers are responsible for bringing the full range of design viewpoints together - ensuring customer requirements are met by proposing innovative solutions, honing in on the detailed design, and coordinating with development teams to make best use of their expertise.

We offer exposure to a variety of engineering methodologies and processes across all domains - Land, Maritime, Air, and Cyber. Our Systems Design functions in Bristol are Weapon Systems, Command and Control Systems, Integration and Systems Validation, Emerging Portfolio and Capability, and Sparkworks.

Depending on your home function and choice of placements, you may be involved in technology research, deriving requirements, brainstorming concept solutions, developing functional architectures, analysing system performance, conducting trade studies, or gathering verification evidence in the lab or through offsite trials - we cover the whole Systems \"V\" Model!

Systems Design is suited to those that enjoy the creativity and practicality of working with problems to arrive at logical solutions. Our people are adaptable and the role is varied and fast paced - innovation is the company value that we practice the most.

We collaborate with people across all engineering fields and business teams, meeting suppliers and customers, and engaging with international MBDA colleagues.

Systems Designers have a high-level view over the whole product definition and lifecycle, laying the foundations for the delivery of future weapons capabilities that achieve the best result for the Customer and MBDA.

What we're looking for from you

Degree qualified in an Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Maths, Technology, Computing or General Science discipline (minimum 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.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.