Key Takeaways
- Graduate programme in Systems Design, starting September 2027.
- Starting salary of £31,900 per year, with a £3000 joining bonus.
- Requires a minimum 2:2 degree in a STEM discipline.
- Applications close on Monday 2nd November 2026.
About the Role
Systems Design is at the heart of the product lifecycle, providing an opportunity to experience every phase of development and collaborate across all engineering disciplines. From researching novel technologies and identifying customer needs, through concept development and performance assessment, to product verification in lab tests and firing trials – Systems Design underpins it all.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary: £31,900 per year, plus a £3000 joining bonus.
- Annual Salary Review
- 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
- Annual Leave: 25 days plus option to purchase extra holiday
- Flexi Leave: up to 15 additional days
- Healthcare Cash Plan: provides support with everyday health related costs – including medical, dental, optical, physio and health & wellbeing.
The Opportunity
Systems Design engineers are responsible for bringing the full range of design viewpoints together - ensuring customer requirements are met by proposing innovative solutions, honing in on the detailed design, and coordinating with development teams to make best use of their expertise.
We offer exposure to a variety of engineering methodologies and processes across all domains - Land, Maritime, Air, and Cyber. Our Systems Design functions in Bristol are Weapon Systems, Command and Control Systems, Integration and Systems Validation, Emerging Portfolio and Capability, and Sparkworks.
Depending on your home function and choice of placements, you may be involved in technology research, deriving requirements, brainstorming concept solutions, developing functional architectures, analysing system performance, conducting trade studies, or gathering verification evidence in the lab or through offsite trials - we cover the whole Systems ‘V’ Model!
Systems Design is suited to those that enjoy the creativity and practicality of working with problems to arrive at logical solutions. Our people are adaptable and the role is varied and fast paced – innovation is the company value that we practice the most.
We collaborate with people across all engineering fields and business teams, meeting suppliers and customers, and engaging with international MBDA colleagues.
Systems Designers have a high-level view over the whole product definition and lifecycle, laying the foundations for the delivery of future weapons capabilities that achieve the best result for the Customer and MBDA.
What we’re looking for from you
- Degree qualified in an Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Maths, Technology, Computing or General Science discipline (minimum 2:2).
Programme Details
- Programme Duration: 2 years, starting September 2027.
- Dynamic Working: Up to 5 days per week on-site due to workload classification, depending on project.
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.
Application Deadline
This role is scheduled to close for applications at midnight on Monday 2nd November 2026 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.