Test Engineer - Electromagnetic Compatibility

MBDA S.A.S.; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organization in Stevenage is seeking an EMC Test Engineer to perform critical EMC test activities and support product development. The role includes dynamic working arrangements, with a salary of up to £55,000 and additional benefits, including a performance-based company bonus. The ideal candidate will have experience in EMC Testing to Defence Standards and excellent communication skills.

Benefits

25 days of paid annual leave

Dynamic Working policies

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension contributions up to 14%

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced parental leave

Qualifications

• Previous experience in EMC Testing to Defence Standards.
• An understanding of EMC and design principles.
• Excellent communication skills at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Perform various EMC test activities in line with a Test Plan.
• Produce Test Reports for products' intended electromagnetic environment.
• Support MBDA programmes through the product development cycle.

Skills

EMC Testing experience

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Ability to work autonomously

Education

Higher education in Electronics, Electrical, Physics, or EMC

Tools

Compliance 5

EMC 32 software

Job description

Benefits & Perks

• Employees receive 25 days of paid annual leave per calendar year, in addition to all statutory and public holidays. After 5, 10 and 15 years of service, an additional day of annual leave is added to your allowance at each of these milestones. You can also purchase up to an additional five days holiday through payroll.
• We trust our people to agree, within their teams, where and when they can be most effective. Our Dynamic Working policies allow individuals great levels of flexibility around the hours they work and where they work. Depending on your role and function, this may include options for paid overtime, dynamic leave (time in lieu) and more.
• MBDA Retirement Savings Plan is a 'Defined Contribution' plan in the Mercer Master Trust, administered by Scottish Widows. Standard contributions are 4% of an employee's base salary and 6% employer contributions. You can increase both employee and employer contributions by up to 2%.
• Financial Awareness – Employees have access to free financial webinars hosted throughout the year, along with access to a financial education website which provides plenty of useful hints, tips and guidance on managing financial wellness.
• Share Incentive Plan – Acquire shares in our UK Shareholder, BAE Systems PLC; the scheme is tax‑efficient on shares purchased.
• Mortgage Advice – As part of our financial wellbeing initiative employees can access free‑of‑charge mortgage advice and webinars.
• Season Ticket Loan – Employees can borrow the value of a public transport season ticket for bus or train journeys to and from work and spread the cost over 12 months.
• Critical Illness – Employees receive a tax‑free lump sum payment to help reduce the financial impact after being diagnosed with a critical illness.
• Employee Assistance Programme – Free, independent, confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Employees have access to short‑term counselling (up to 8 structured sessions).
• Voluntary Private Medical Insurance – Offers three healthcare plans to suit your individual requirements for you and your family.
• Funded Private Medical Insurance – Eligible employees (Grade C & Above) are enrolled as standard into the company‑funded Private Medical Insurance benefit.
• Dental Insurance – The benefit provides the option to claim cash‑back on everyday dental expenses such as minor treatments, routine examinations, restorative treatment and more, with six levels of cover available.
• Healthcare Cash Plan – Option to claim cash‑back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing; six levels of cover available.
• Healthcare and Leisure – Option to claim cash‑back on everyday healthcare expenses such as medical fees, dentist fees, opticians, and also provides access to special deals and concessions on sporting and recreational facilities.
• Healthworks Gym Membership – On‑site gym at our Stevenage site offers a range of facilities and equipment, alongside a variety of classes available during the week.
• Annual Gym Membership – Discounted membership at over 3,600 of the UK's leading gym chains, leisure centres, hotel health clubs, independent gyms, boot camps and yoga studios.
• The Club – Provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy great social activities – from theatre trips, days out, to sporting activities.
• Additional benefits include standalone awards such as the Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2022, Gold awards from Investors in People, the 5% Club, and the Armed Forces Covenant. MBDA is ranked #1 in the UK’s Best Big Companies to Work For 2022 and #1 for Manufacturing.

Compensation & Working Arrangements

• Salary: Up to £55,000 depending on experience.
• Dynamic (hybrid) working: 5 days per week on‑site for hands‑on testing (working from home available when not testing).
• 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.
• Flexi leave: Up to 15 additional days.
• Flexible working: Welcome applicants looking for flexible working arrangements.
• Enhanced parental leave: Offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave – enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments.
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and more.

Security Clearance

Security Clearance: British Citizen restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. All successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS).

Responsibilities

The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) department is unique within MBDA. It is split between a test team working hands‑on in our state‑of‑the‑art EMC Facility and a highly skilled project consultancy team embedded across all projects to ensure good EMC practice & design. This role is in our EMC Test Team, who support MBDA programmes through their product development cycle from risk‑reduction test activities to full qualification testing. The majority of the work will be performing various EMC test activities in line with a Test Plan produced by the EMC Project Team as well as the production of the Test Report. The EMC Test Team performs formal tests in the products’ intended electromagnetic environment at the EMC Laboratories in Bristol.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in EMC Testing to Defence Standards.
• Previous experience using Compliance 5 and EMC 32 software.
• Higher education or significant experience within subject fields: Electronics, Electrical, Physics, EMC or similar.
• An understanding of EMC and design principles.
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work to defined deadlines and within budget limits.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Professional manner and adaptability when the company’s needs are evolving.
• Capable of working autonomously to meet the delivery needs of the company.
• Desirable: Knowledge in the application of a military EMC standard to system, sub‑system or equipment level (e.g. Defence Standard 59‑41 / 59‑411, AECTP500, Mil‑Std‑461, RTCA DO160 / EUROCAE ED‑14).
• Desirable: Engineers with previous experience in delivering support around the subject of electromagnetic compatibility.
• Desirable: Build on your EMC knowledge working alongside the subject‑matter experts and specialists within the field of EMC.
• Desirable: Our team is highly valued in MBDA. We are known as capable, knowledgeable, and we have great test facilities.
• Desirable: Opportunities to represent MBDA during discussions with our customers.
• Desirable: As EMC specialists, we can influence the project teams and how EMC qualification will occur.
• Desirable: Potential to participate in research or investigation studies.
• Desirable: Ability to bring your ideas and unique skillset to the team.
• Desirable: Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given MBDA is a leading defence organisation.

Family Friendly Policies

We recognise that having or adopting a child is a significant life event for our employees, and as a family‑friendly employer we offer a range of enhanced family leave provisions to support employees before, during and after a period of leave. The enhanced parental leave offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments. We also offer 2 weeks enhanced pay for paternity leave, and neonatal care leave for up to 12 weeks where a period of extended hospital care is required after birth. Employees also have access to support whilst undergoing fertility testing and treatments.

Additional Perks & Lifestyle

• Discounts & Vouchers – The Discounts platform includes a range of features such as discounts, instant vouchers, reloadable cards, easy saver cards, cashback, mobile app and Wellbeing Centre.
• Costco – Permanent employees qualify for Costco's individual membership.
• Technology Vouchers – Purchase the latest gadgets and white goods up to £2,500 and spread the cost over 12 months.
• Charity Donations – Donate up to five charities each month, with full tax relief on all donations.
• MyCar Scheme – The MBDA MyCar Scheme offers employees the opportunity to access up to two new vehicles via a salary sacrifice arrangement including an all‑inclusive package.
• Holiday Purchase – Purchase up to 5 days’ extra holiday while making tax and National Insurance savings, spreading the cost over 12 months.

Career Development

Development of our people is of vital importance to us at MBDA, which is why we ensure everyone has access to the teams, tools and resources needed to achieve their goals. This includes our dedicated in‑house Learning & Development team, our Apprenticeship programmes, a variety of online learning platforms, and much more. We encourage new learning and will provide up to £150 in financial support per year if you wish to participate in further study in your own time. If you lead a team, or hope to do so in the future, we offer a range of management training opportunities, with paths designed for people of all experience levels.

Dynamic Working

We want our people to work when and where they feel they can be most effective. For most of our employees, we have a flexi‑time scheme that allows you to choose, within certain parameters, when you start and finish each day and how you can use time you have accrued. For roles that do not have to be based on one of our sites full‑time, you will have opportunities to work from home as part of your agreed Dynamic Working arrangement. If you have worked the time, you are also able to accrue and take up to 15 days of Flexi‑leave per annum, in addition to the 25 days of annual leave provided and bank holidays.