Operational Analyst Placement 2026

Operational Analyst Placement 2026

Operational Analysis is a scientific approach to problem solving by applying analytical methods and tools in order to support and improve decision-making.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 3-5 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 FOR THIS ROLE IS 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

The MBDA Operational Analysis (OA) Team is approximately 20 people from a variety of educational backgrounds, including Maths, Physics, Engineering, Economics and Military History. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, the team supports a wide range of work from across the business.

The team supports a diverse set of activities, working for both internal MBDA customers and external defence related contracts.

The OA Team is involved with;

• Understanding and communicating the nature of the future battlespace and operational context for future weapon systems
• Assessment of weapons system options in war fighting scenarios
• Developing the Concept of Operation for future weapons
• Generating evidence to support high level choices, both for UK future systems and potential export campaigns.
• Support with Identification and definition of potential future weapon system concepts, based on anticipated customer requirements and promising future technologies.
• Developing and using mathematical modelling and simulation tools
• Providing analysis to demonstrate the value of current products to potential customers.
• Concept and technology considerations for future products

As an Undergraduate within the OA Team, you will likely be supporting a number of different activities throughout your placement through; undertaking research, running analytical models, and producing reports or presentations.

What we're looking for from you

• Working towards a relevant analytical or defence related degree such as Maths, Physics, Astronomy, Systems Engineering, Computational Studies, Operational Research, Economics, Statistics, War Studies
• An analytical and problem solving mind set.
• An interest in defence and passion for understanding the operational environment in which weapon systems will be used.

Application Process

• Submit an application Our 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 One Next 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 Two Part 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 centre Our 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.
• Offer We’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.

Training and Development

You’ll be able to choose between a variety of online learning platforms such as Percipio, YouLearn, Career Builder and Video Gateway. Each one is tailored to a specific type of learning. Speak to your line manager to find out more.

We encourage new learning and will provide up to £150 in financial support per year if you wish to participate in further study in your own time. You’ll have access to our Learning Gateway, which hosts the formal course catalogue and is where you can select the right training for your role and future development. The catalogue displays which courses are being delivered virtually or are classroom based. If you want to lead a team, you might be interested in our management training, designed for people of all experience levels.

Dynamic Working

The way we work is changing and your schedule will reflect that. For non-executive employees, we have a flexi-time scheme that allows you to choose, within certain parameters, when you start and finish each day and how you can use time you have accrued. If you have worked the time, you are also able to accrue and take up to 15 days of Flexi-leave per annum, in addition to the 25 days of annual leave provided and bank holidays.

Security Clearance

All employees at MBDA are required to hold UK Security or BPSS Clearance.

For further information, please view our Security & Vetting page.

Please refer to our Security & Vetting policy for further information.

We only recommend continuing your application if you are confident of your right to work for us.

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.