Warheads Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

MBDA UK Ltd; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense organization is offering a one-year placement for students pursuing degrees in Engineering or Applied Science. The role involves working on Warhead development and testing with a hybrid working structure. Candidates will apply their academic learning to real-world projects and gain unique experience in a specialized field.

Benefits

Company bonus

Maximum pension contributions of up to 14%

Opportunity for paid overtime

25 days annual leave plus purchase options

Subsidised meals

Free car parking

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a relevant degree program.
• Able to work independently and in a team.
• Basic understanding of engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Assist in various stages of the product lifecycle.
• Learn to produce design definitions and conduct simulations.
• Support data analysis from trial results.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Working towards a degree in Engineering or Applied Science

Job description

Overview

The Complex Warheads Centre of Excellence is a coordinated team and the company's design authority for Warheads. We support Warhead development throughout the product lifecycle; starting with concept design, design definitions, assessment, technical specification, test equipment and maturity of concepts, into manufacture.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 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.

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 team develops, designs and tests Warheads for MBDA missiles. We predict the lethal performance of various types of missile systems through modelling of missile terminal engagement, target detection, Warhead detonation and lethal performance prediction. We provide expertise in the skill areas of Warheads, energetic materials, target detection and weapon lethality.

Through this placement you'll:

• Work closely with the team in a variety of stages within the product lifecycle
• Learn how to produce detailed design definitions, carry out concept assessment using modelling simulations
• Support the team to analyse and assess performance data collected during trials
• Support the design and planning for trials.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a niche group of engineers with specialised expertise. The skills we utilise are not typical in academia and so joining the team presents an opportunity for you to develop knowledge in numerous aspects of Warhead development that you would not acquire anywhere else!

Joining us will build your knowledge and enable you to apply an understanding of Warhead technologies and their lethal effects to various types of missile systems in development and in service.

You may be encouraged to work independently, with limited supervision, or part of a small to medium team, as required.

Some projects may include collaboration with other MBDA departments across the UK and Europe. This role may require you to travel.

What we're looking for from you

Working towards a degree in an Engineering, Mathematical or Applied Science subject area such as Aeronautical, Aerospace, Mechanical or Systems Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics discipline.

Our company slogan: 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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