Weapon System Equipment Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

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

Job summary

A leading defence organization is seeking a Weapon System Equipment Engineer for a hybrid undergraduate placement starting in 2026. This role involves managing sub-systems and working across diverse projects, with a focus on technical and project management skills. The ideal candidate is working towards a relevant engineering degree. Competitive salary and a supportive work environment are offered.

Benefits

Company bonus based on performance

Pension with max contribution of 14%

Overtime opportunities

25 days annual leave plus extra holiday options

Flexi Leave of up to 15 days

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Qualifications

• Working towards a degree in relevant engineering field.

Responsibilities

• Manage equipment and Weapon System sub-systems.
• Develop skills in technical, project management, and product delivery.
• Conduct equipment management and development trials.

Skills

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Physics

Mathematics

Computer Science

Education

Working towards relevant engineering degree

Job description

Overview

Weapon System Equipment Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2026

The Weapon System Equipment (WSE) team is responsible for managing groups of equipment and Weapon System sub-systems from the bidding stage, into the concept & requirements generation phase, through their development programme, and on to production & delivery and final integration onto the platform or launcher.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 2-3 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 5TH JANUARY 2026 (SUBJECT TO APPLICATION VOLUMES)

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

As a Weapon System Engineer in MBDA you will be part of one department in a fast growing, multi-national group that provides a variety of different engineering and specialist skills across a number of projects, ensuring our products are fit for purpose and delivered on time and to cost. As the complexity of the battlefield increases, so too do our customers\' capability needs! Consequently, we have evolved to provide the necessary expertise across a large range of weapon system aspects, much wider than just the missile itself.

The Weapon System Equipment (WSE) team is responsible for managing groups of equipment and Weapon System sub-systems from the bidding stage, into the concept & requirements generation phase, through their development programme, and on to production & delivery and final integration onto the platform or launcher. The WSE team provides technical and project management to ensure that these products & equipment are fit for purpose and delivered on time and to cost. As an engineer within the Weapon System Equipment team, you will have a unique opportunity to develop skills in several areas (e.g. technical, project management, product delivery) working across a variety of different projects in MBDA to gain a wide breath of knowledge. Typical WSE activities include:

• Sub-System & Equipment Requirements generation and management
• Technical management of equipment development, production and delivery to meet Customer milestones
• Managing equipment and hardware development trials.
• Develop equipment policies and technical standards to improve capability.
• Regular contact with a variety of partners including external MBDA Customers and Suppliers
• Working with a multi-disciplined team across all parts of the product lifecycle (e.g. procurement, commercial, mechanical & electrical engineers, software engineers, trials & integration teams)

What we\'re looking for from you

Working towards a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or Computer Science.

Our company

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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