Key Takeaways
- Undertake a 1-year placement starting September 2027 as a Mechanical Missile Architect.
- Earn £24,460 per year with opportunities for paid overtime and a company bonus.
- Gain practical experience in missile design, verification, and validation.
- Applications close on 4th January 2027, but may close earlier.
About the Role
We're looking for curious minds and fresh perspectives to launch your career with us as an Undergraduate Mechanical Architect and help design systems that shape our future.
What we can offer you:
- 1 year placement: starting September 2027, that allows you to apply your university learning to real-world projects and technologies
- Perform well on your placement and you could secure a graduate role before your final year
- 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
- Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.
- 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:
To join MBDA’s undergraduate scheme within our Mechanical Missile Architecture Department. Mechanical Missile Architects work between customer requirements and the product development process to:
- Establish a coherent top-level missile design.
- Develop and deliver the missile’s verification and validation strategy.
- Deliver and support a product our customers are satisfied with.
Mechanical Architects are deployed in each of our missile product teams which include products across all stages of the missile lifecycle. They draw upon inputs from stakeholders across the business and perform various technical and project management tasks. Depending on the product lifecycle stage and specific project needs, mechanical architects will:
- Manage the equipment design process.
- Perform risk analysis, supplier down select and performance trade studies.
- Develop and manage equipment verification and validation process by generating requirements, design verification strategies, supporting trials and procurement specialists etc.
- Manage the on-quality, on-schedule and on-cost delivery of supplier hardware using project management skills and toolsets.
Mechanical Architects work with a wide range of technical functions and provide direct input towards project delivery across the business.
Within the role you’ll be working on allocated projects, which could be at any stage of the design lifecycle! The role comes with the experience of working with various people and departments within MBDA to achieve successful delivery of your project.
During the scheme you’ll get the opportunity to:
- Learn how to manage elements of missile equipment design process.
- Gain a practical understanding of the verification and validation lifecycle of defence products.
- Assist with trials and testing of components and missiles during the development phase.
- Support certification, manufacture and delivery of hardware.
What we're looking for from you:
Current undergraduate studying for a degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Production/Manufacturing Engineering .
About MBDA:
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.
