Systems Engineer - Summer Placement 2026

MBDA UK Ltd; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organization is offering a Systems Engineer - Summer Placement for 2026 in Stevenage. This role involves applying your academic knowledge to real-world projects within a dynamic, hybrid working environment, focusing on missile and weapon system design and support. Candidates should be pursuing a relevant degree and have strong problem-solving and teamwork skills. Competitive salary and a range of employee benefits offered.

Benefits

10 week placement

Pension contribution up to 14%

Paid overtime opportunity

5 days annual leave

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Qualifications

• Currently studying a relevant degree.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and support missile systems within the Systems Engineering framework.
• Conduct research on future technologies and product capabilities.
• Engage with internal and external customers.

Skills

Problem-solving

Creativity

Teamwork

Education

Currently studying for a degree in Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Engineering, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Technology or Computing

Job description

Systems Engineer - Summer Placement 2026

Salary: £23,495 (pro rata)

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: Where possible, we will seek to accommodate a blended approach to on-site and remote working. To ensure you get the most from this placement you would be expected to be on site at least 3 days per week.

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

Working within one of our Systems Design functions, you will be involved in concepting, designing, delivering and supporting the latest Complex Weapons capabilities for the UK and partner nation Armed Forces in response to advanced threats in all domains (Air, Land, Sea).

You'll complete a placement based on a project that could be at any stage in a range of areas, from future capabilities to in-service products. Through the placement, we\'ll help you understand the make-up of a missile or a weapon system; from the warhead to the seeker in the missile to the wider weapon system components.

These placements will enable you to understand the Systems Engineering 'V' model across the whole product lifecycle - including:

• Researching future technologies and novel domains;
• Developing requirements and functional architectures;
• Creating concept solutions
• Analysing performance and supporting trade-off studies;
• Managing interfaces and integration of systems and sub-systems
• Proving and certification activities at Weapon and Missile system level
• Learning about technologies and customer needs associated with specific products or capabilities.

Across the Systems Engineering domain, we offer exposure to a wide variety of different technologies, engineering methodologies, and customer needs associated with specific products or capabilities. This also offers a great opportunity to engage with internal and external customers.

This role is suited to those that enjoy the creativity and practicality of working with problems to arrive at logical solutions.

Our Systems Design function will support you to become a fully integrated member of the team with the opportunity to assume an increasing level of responsibility. We offer varied roles with scope to choose placements based on interests and skills.

Our people are adaptable and the role is varied and fast paced - Innovation is a company value that we practice the most.

Systems Engineers work with people across all engineering fields and business teams, meeting suppliers and customers and engaging with international MBDA colleagues. There is also Opportunity to travel both within the UK and potentially internationally.

What we\'re looking for from you

Currently studying for a degree in Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Engineering, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Technology or Computing 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.

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