MBDA
Systems Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 2027

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Salary: £24,460
Dynamic working:
Where possible, we will seek to accommodate a blended approach to on-site and remote working, but this will depend on project requirements and the need for access to specific site facilities.
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.
This role is scheduled to close for applications at midnight on Monday 4th January 2027 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.
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: provides support with everyday health related costs – including medical, dental, optical, physio and health & wellbeing
- 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…
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The opportunity:
Working within one of our Systems Design functions, you will be involved in designing the latest Complex Weapons capabilities for the UK and partner nation Armed Forces in response to advanced threats in Air, Land, Maritime and Cyber domains.
You'll complete a placement based on a project that could be at any stage in a range of areas, from future capabilities to in-service products. Through the placement, we'll help you understand the make-up of a missile or a weapon system; from the warhead to the seeker in the missile to the wider weapon system components.
These placements will enable you to understand the Systems Engineering ‘V' model across the whole product lifecycle – including:
- Researching future technologies and novel domains;
- Developing requirements and functional architectures;
- Creating concept solutions through Agile methodologies;
- Analysing performance and conducting trade space studies;
- Conducting verification and validation through trials and lab tests.
Across the Systems Engineering domain, we offer exposure to a wide variety of different technologies, engineering methodologies, and customer needs associated with specific products or capabilities.
This role is suited to those that enjoy the creativity and practicality of working with problems to arrive at logical solutions.
Our Systems Design function will support you to become a fully integrated member of the team with the opportunity to assume an increasing level of responsibility. We offer varied roles with scope to choose placements based on interests and skills.


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Our people are adaptable and the role is varied and fast paced – Innovation is a company value that we practice the most.
Systems Engineers work with people across all engineering fields and business teams, meeting suppliers and customers and engaging with international MBDA colleagues. There is also opportunity to travel both within the UK and potentially internationally.
What we're looking for from you:
Currently studying towards a degree in an Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Maths, Technology, Computing or General Science discipline.
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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