Mechanical Engineering Higher Apprenticeship 2026

Mechanical Engineering Higher Apprenticeship 2026

Salary: £18,750 plus a £3000 joining bonus

Work Location: MBDA Stevenage

Learning Provider Location: Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge Campus

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 FOR THIS ROLE IS MIDNIGHT ON 23RD JANUARY 2026 (SUBJECT TO APPLICATION VOLUMES)

What we can offer you:

• Fully funded qualification starting September 2026
• Paid travel expenses to and from your place of study
• Annual pay reviews
• 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
• Study leave during exam periods

The opportunity

Our four year apprenticeship programme is designed to best prepare you for graduation into the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Function. ME is involved in all aspects of a product's life-cycle; from early development and research, through to in service support. Completing this apprenticeship will provide you with the skills required to design, make, and test the next generation of missile system hardware.

This programme provides structured training on the use of industry standard engineering software packages such as Creo Parametric, Altair HyperMesh, and Ansys.You'll be educated in key engineering design and analysis skills such as calculation of mass properties, limits and fits and understanding of material properties and selection process. You'll gain exposure to the application of structural and dynamic analysis techniques learned during academic studies. You'll also develop the skills required to work as part of a multi-functional project team, regularly collaborating with colleagues from Electronics, Environmental engineering and Manufacturing.

This is a great opportunity to explore the breadth of the Mechanical Engineering discipline and to work with innovative technologies. It could lead to personal and professional progression to people management, where you could become a technical specialist, project manager, or beyond.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an accredited Mechanical Engineering scheme that has developed some of the top tier engineering apprentices in the UK!

Programme structure

You'll study towards a Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship, which includes a HNC qualification in Mechanical Engineering. This course is aligned with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.Throughout the 4 years, you will attend Cambridge Regional College for 1 day per week with the remaining time spent on work placements, typically lasting three to six months.MBDA will assist in achieving Professional accreditation through the IMechE, IET or RAeS.The placement rotations and experiences gained on this scheme have been tailored to provide the specific skills required to become an engineer within MBDA's Mechanical Engineering Function. Placements may include:

• Mechanical Design
• Mechanical Analysis
• Materials and Processes
• Design Definition Office
• Configuration management
• Environmental Engineering & Facilities
• Industry Policy Supply Chain and Procurement

You will be both studying and applying scientific and mathematical based principles and practices during this apprenticeship and therefore it is suited to those who enjoy the practical application of the subjects.

Find more details about the course here:https://www.camre.ac.uk/course/engineering-manufacturing-technician-level-4-apprenticeship-standard/APPEMT4S

What we're looking for from you:

This role has specific qualification and subject criteria so please make sure you carefully check your eligibility against this criteria before applying otherwise your application will not be considered. If you are currently studying and predicted to meet these requirements by the start date you are welcome to apply.

GCSEs: A minimum of 5 GCSE's at grades 9-4This must include: English Language, Mathematics - level 5 and above, Any Science or Technology subject

After GCSEs: After your GCSEs you must have completed one of the following and achieved 96 UCAS Tariff points:

• 3 x A levels at minimum grade C including Maths
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering at a minimum grade of MMM, including a Distinction in Further Maths module.
• T-Level at Pass in an Engineering subject

Please note:We look at entry criteria based on your top three full A Levels or equivalent qualifications (BTEC/T Level). We do not include UCAS points gained from an Extended Project Qualification. Additionally, as an employer we set our own entry criteria based on the requirements of this role. This means that the criteria above may differ from the university.

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.

Application Process

• Submit an applicationOur application form contains a few factual questions, some questions relating to the role you have applied for and a section for you to tell us all about you!
• Online assessment - Part OneNext in our process is part one of our online strengths assessment, completely tailored to our business and early careers schemes. After completing our assessment you'll receive a personalised report.
• Online assessment - Part TwoPart two of our online assessments include three video recorded tasks which are authentic work scenario based activities which you could be doing on your programme - we refer to these as job simulations.
• Assessment centreOur strength based assessment centre is a half day virtual experience! You’ll get to work on a range of tasks, meet current programme members and people from the department you have applied for. All candidates receive feedback on their performance.
• OfferWe’ll call you within a week of your assessment day to talk through your feedback and the finer details of your offer, as well as next steps.

Benefits & Rewards

• Annual Bonus: Rewarded every year in February, with amounts/percentages varying by grade and business performance.
• 25 Days Annual Leave (plus holiday purchase): Annual paid leave per calendar year plus statutory/public holidays, with additional days for long service and up to 5 days purchasable.
• Dynamic Working: Flexible working hours and location options agreed within teams.
• Enhanced Parental Leave: Up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave with enhancements for paternity, neonatal and fertility treatments.
• Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers: Discounts, instant/reloadable cards, cashback, Wellbeing Centre, Costco, tech vouchers, charity donations, MyCar Scheme, extra holiday purchase.
• Gyms & Social Clubs: Access to on-site and discounted gym memberships, social activities via The Club.
• Pension & Finance: Retirement Savings Plan, free financial webinars/advice, Share Incentive Plan, mortgage advice, season ticket loan, critical illness cover.
• Share Incentive Plan: Tax efficient share acquisition scheme.
• Extra-curricular Learning Budget: Up to £150 annually for approved learning courses.
• Health and Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), voluntary and funded medical insurance, dental and healthcare cash plans.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Free, confidential 24/7 support on various matters.

Information

Training and Development: Access to a variety of online and classroom learning platforms and up to £150 financial support annually for external study. Management training available for all experience levels.

Dynamic Working: Flexi-time scheme and up to 15 days Flexi-leave per year in addition to standard leave and bank holidays.

Security Clearance: All employees must hold UK Security or BPSS Clearance.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.