Mechanical Architect Engineer (Mechanical) Placement 2026

Mechanical Architect Engineer (Mechanical) Placement 2026

We're looking for curious minds and fresh perspectives, launch your career with us as a Undergraduate Mechanical Architect and help design systems that shape our future.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 3-4 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

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

Working towards a degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Production/Manufacturing Engineering.

Application Process

• Submit an application
• 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.

Information

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.

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.