Guidance, Control and Navigation Engineer Placement 2026

Guidance, Control and Navigation Engineer Placement 2026

The algorithms we design in Guidance, Control and Navigation (GCN) lie at the heart of all of the highly complex MBDA missile and weapon systems. We're involved in every phase of the product's life cycle, from concept through to service.

Salary: £23,495

Dynamic (Hybrid) Working: 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

We host 4 areas of expertise:

• Guidance - figuring out a suitable trajectory, providing an effective route to target interception and improving the probability of defeating the target
• Control - designing and tuning autopilot algorithms, for various control surfaces, to maintain stable flight dynamics and achieve the guidance demands
• Navigation - estimating the current missile state (position, velocity and altitude/orientation) using measurements from a range of on-board sensors
• Command and Control (C2) - designing weapon-system level algorithms to track and evaluate incoming threats, plan engagements, and provide additional mission context to the operator

You'll join a supportive and experienced team of engineers who will encourage and help you to develop skills including coding and modelling, mathematics, flight dynamics and control theory, utilising tools such as MATLAB/SIMULINK daily.

Work alongside other departments to increase your knowledge on the complexities of a missile, including propulsion, aerodynamics, seekers, sensors and actuators.

Broaden your technical knowledge of the design and function of a complex weapon system. Have visibility of a wide range of work, from researching and developing futuristic technologies through to being on the design team for current high-profile projects.

Experience work within one of the many international teams in MBDA, with the GCN function in Paris and Rome! This doesn't always equate to travel but you may be offered the option where the opportunity arises.

Get involved with

• Integrated navigation, such as 'Terrain Reference Navigation', 'GPS integration', and ‘Image Based Navigation'
• Autopilot and control system design and analysis, including dual-mode control, thrust vector control, etc.
• Algorithms for mid-course guidance, terminal guidance, target tracking and selectivity
• Data fusion to combine data from multiple sensors. For example, radars, seekers, IMUs, etc.
• Implementing AI techniques including neural networks and deep learning to improve traditional GCN algorithms and solve new challenges
• Designing autonomous decision-making systems for use in complex collective missions.

What we're looking for from you

Current undergraduate studying towards a degree in Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Engineering or Computing discipline.

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.

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.