Seekers Production Support Engineer – Graduate Programme 2025
Salary: £31,000 plus a £3000 joining bonus.
Location: Bolton
Working pattern: the majority of your work will be conducted on site; a positive result of which is that our office remains a social and collaborative working environment. Nevertheless, there can be opportunities for home working depending on the nature of the task.
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 Thursday 19th December
The opportunity:
The seeker is the 'eye' of a missile. It is a complex integrated radar system and is required for missile guidance as well as for detection, identification and tracking of targets.
As a part of the RF Seeker Production Support team, you could help to provide the critical knowledge and skills to ensure that seeker production runs smoothly.
Setting up a production line for building and testing seekers can be difficult due to their advanced designs and challenging requirements. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, with the ability to become experts in seeker technology and to apply that expertise to ensure we can build our seekers on quality, on time and on cost.
We could be asked to support with any issue affecting the production of seekers, be it RF, electronic, mechanical, software, thermal or otherwise. We would therefore need you to be happy to adapt to the work as it arises. We will often work alongside Engineers from the Manufacturing and Test teams so teamwork is essential. We must work together to understand the problem, determine the cause, find the solution, and implement the fix.
This programme gives you opportunity to learn on the job while you advance upon your existing university skills and experiences.
You could experience the following work whilst on your placements:
Investigating issues with seeker design or production flow
Performing measurements on RF systems (including Vector Network Analysers, Spectrum Analysers and specialist-to-type test equipment)
Analysis of test data telemetry using MATLAB
Advising improvements to seeker design, build, and testing
Transferring technical knowledge from our Design teams (functioning as a technical point of contact)
Transitioning seekers between Design and Manufacture phase
You will also have the opportunity to work towards Professional Chartership with the IOP, IMA, IET, IMechE or RAeS, and we will pay 100% of the fees whilst you are on the Graduate scheme.
The diversity of fields working together under one roof makes the RF Seekers department a unique environment for discovering, exploring and specialising in a wide variety production areas. We are therefore looking for candidates with diverse backgrounds and interests.
We also work closely with many other teams, giving you exposure to other exciting areas across the industry. Seekers is an Anglo-Italian department and works on numerous multinational projects, leading to travel and secondment opportunities.
What we are looking for from you:
Degree qualified in a Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Maths, Aeronautical Engineering or Artificial Intelligence discipline (minimum 2.2).
Our company:
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.
What we can offer you:
2 year programme starting September 2025
Company bonus and twice yearly salary reviews
Pension of maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
Fantastic site facilities, including subsidised meals and free car parking
Excellent career progression and development opportunities
Flexible working
We respect new perspectives and experiences, and we value our collaborative ways of working. We are committed to growing and supporting diversity in our workforce and ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their potential. MBDA is proud of our employee-led networks including Gender Equality, Pride, Neurodiversity, Ethnic Diversity, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers and Armed Forces.
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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