M

MBDA

Missile systems designer and manufacturer

Principal Manufacturing Engineer Continuous Improvement

Full-TimeUpdated
£47k
Expert
Bachelor's
Bolton, UK
HybridHybrid working requires 4–5 days per week on-site.
Manufacturing & Process EngineeringManufacturing Engineering
UK Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • An Electrical or Mechanical Engineering/Manufacturing apprenticeship at Advanced Level or Level 3 Standard, together with a Level 4 academic qualification (HNC, diploma, or equivalent) and a Level 3 vocational qualification (NVQ), unless a Level 3 apprenticeship standard has been achieved; alternatively, a degree in a relevant subject.
  • Experience working in or supporting operations in a fast-paced production environment.
  • Experience using and understanding Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies and the 7 Quality tools.
  • Ability to lead practical problem-solving exercises with multifunctional teams.
  • Ability to produce, maintain, and interpret data using a structured approach.
  • Ability to manage projects or improvements from cradle to grave.
  • Sound understanding of manufacturing, logistical, and engineering processes.
  • Ability to influence teams outside the direct reporting structure and form and maintain productive working relationships with business stakeholders.
Responsibilities
  • Manage the continuous-improvement program for an allocated business unit.
  • Remove waste from manufacturing processes.
  • Lead development and implementation of business metrics and reporting systems.
  • Establish, support, and govern continuous-improvement reviews, ensuring they are robust and sustainable.
  • Develop continuous-improvement plans.
  • Support root-cause analysis for externally supplied detail products.
  • Reduce defective issues, including concessions, rework, and non-conformances, using a structured approach such as 8D, PDCA, or DMAIC.
  • Implement process controls and process capability.
  • Create and maintain the foundation for standard work for business processes.
  • Facilitate improvement activities within the manufacturing facility.
  • Provide technical expertise on Lean toolsets and change management.
  • Support and lead waste and defect reduction activities to increase productivity and reduce costs while production rates increase.
  • Liaise with other functions to ensure they are aware of improvement activities.
  • Provide leadership, direction, and support across Assembly Operations.
Desired Qualifications
  • A passion for continuous improvement.

About the company

M

MBDA

View
Website

MBDA is a European defence group that designs, develops and manufactures missiles and missile systems for air, land and naval forces, serving about 90 armed forces worldwide under long-term government contracts. Its products include air-to-air missiles like Meteor and MICA, air-defense systems such as Aster and CAMM, anti-ship missiles like Exocet and Sea Venom, deep-strike weapons such as Storm Shadow/SCALP, battlefield missiles like Brimstone, loitering munitions, hypersonic weapons and the DragonFire laser. The company is owned by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo with national subsidiaries across Europe, and it differentiates itself by its pan-European ownership, broad cross-domain portfolio, integrated programs and ongoing through-life support, plus investments in defence startups. Its goal is to provide reliable, end-to-end weapon solutions and keep defense capabilities up to date for its home nations and about 90 other armed forces worldwide.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Le Plessis-Robinson, France

Founded

2001

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • France approved THUNDART on 10 September 2026, securing a long-range land-strike program.
  • Italy validated TESEO MK2/E on 16 September 2026, targeting production and 2028 deliveries.
  • MBDA opened Poland's Czosnów facility on 7 September 2026, deepening NATO east-flank support.

What critics are saying

  • France and Germany are subsidizing rivals, including Patriot and Tomahawk production, in 2026.
  • MBDA must double Aster output in 2026, exposing supply-chain and execution bottlenecks.
  • If Europe shifts strike spending to U.S. systems, MBDA loses its autonomy premium.

What makes MBDA unique

  • MBDA sells sovereign European missiles across France, Britain, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
  • Its €48 billion backlog and €5 billion investment plan fund deep industrial scale.
  • THUNDART and TESEO MK2/E keep MBDA embedded in national strike architectures.

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Benefits

  • Performance Bonus
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Parental Leave
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Fertility Treatment Support
  • Meal Benefits
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Health Insurance
  • Wellness Program
  • Mentorship Program

Company News

EDR Magazine
Oct 27th, 2026
MBDA new SIMBAD-RCs on schedule, more Mistral 3 worldwide and SPIMM for everyone.

MBDA new SIMBAD-RCs on schedule, more Mistral 3 worldwide and SPIMM for everyone. Luca Peruzzi The recent operations in Ukraine and Middle East, where Allied and friendly forces were and are involved in neutralizing thousands of aerial and surface drones, missiles and platforms, together with the need to enhance the air defence capabilities of NATO, European and friendly nations against hybrid threats, have pushed customers to select the MBDA Mistral 3 and its launcher systems or augment their inventories of the same combat proven weapon system. "The latter continues to demonstrate its capabilities in both the mentioned theatres of operations," Paul-Henri Moulin, MBDA Technical Advisor in the Naval Segment, said during the Euronaval media tour. With more than 50 customers worldwide, the latest model of the Mistral family was selected and procured by 25 customers. French Armed Forces and 10 NATO countries, among which Spain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, as well as European nations, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, and Cyprus, have in use or are awaiting delivery of the Mistral 3. Four more undisclosed countries worldwide also field the Mistral 3, while Finland, Norway and a third country are still using a previous generation Mistral. The increasing number of operators and orders pushed MBDA to augment the production rate of the Mistral 3 missile, while the weapon system was enhanced to cope with hybrid threats. With a 1.88 metres length, and a mass of less than 20 kg, the high supersonic missile is equipped with a 3 kg warhead coupled with laser proximity and impact fuse; it has a manoeuvrability up to 30 g, an interception range and altitude of respectively 8,000 and 6,000 metres, while minimum interception range is 500 meters. Being the first VSHORAD missile fitted with an IR matrix imager, developed by Safran, according to MBDA the combat proven Mistral 3 comes with a homing guidance characterized by advanced image processing capabilities enabling the engagement of low-thermal signature targets such as small UAVs and turbojet-powered missiles, in addition to being immune to all known IR countermeasures. MBDA has conducted fire trials campaigns to enhance the capabilities against low signature targets as UAVs and small fast and agile boats respectively in 2024 and 2025, explained the MBDA representative. SIMBAD-RC 2 and 4 To cope with the increased need to provide a protection at closer range among the Naval Forces, MBDA launched at Euronaval 2024 a new generation of SIMBAD RC naval launchers with respectively two (RC 2) and four (RC 4) missiles, both under production to be delivered to customers in 2027, according to the MBDA representative. The all ITAR-free new versions feature a turret provided by Cegelec Défense with a new design characterized by a common pedestal capable to accommodate respectively a single two-missile pod (RC2) or two pods (RC4). The turret is equipped with a Safran Electronics & Defense MATIS SP dual field-of-view mid-wave band cooled thermal camera. The latter is installed on top of the right arm on the RC2 model, while on the RC 4 version, as a development introduced more recently, it is positioned underneath the right two-missile pod. The latest announced customer of the SIMBAD-RC is the Spanish Navy, which in September 2026 signed a landmark framework agreement with the European missile group for the procurement of three SIMBAD-RC 2 systems, introducing a dedicated close-in protection capability against both aerial and surface threats, which the service previously lacked and opening the way to further procurements to equip other platforms. Although no information was released, it is understood the systems will be installed at least on F-80 frigates currently undergoing modernization. Under a comprehensive contract to enhance the short range defence of French Armed Forces, awarded in January 2025 to national industry, the Marine Nationale has installed the SIMBAD-RC on board the new replenishment and logistic support vessels (BRF, Bâtiments Ravitailleurs de Forces) and is going to arm the new seven Offshore Patrol Vessels (Patrouilleurs Hauturiers), the first of which was launched by French Piriou shipyard on February 2026 and is expected to be delivered in 2027. According to the updated multi-year defence programming law (LPM 2024-2030) which was approved by the French Parliament and promulgated in August 2026, the components of Aquitaine-class FREMM and Forbin-class FDA frigates are expected to receive a very short-range surface-to-air system or SATCP (système surface-air à très courte portée), which term identified, so far, the MBDA Mistral-equipped system. According to the same programming document, the French Navy is expected to receive 26 SATCP systems by late 2030, which will increase to 42 by 2035, with a significant boost to the protection of the French fleet. Unveiled in its first prototype iteration during the Navdex 2019 exhibition, the MBDA Self-Protection Integrated Mistral Module (SPIMM) concept is back on the company's agenda in a more capable version, today being developed under a cooperation agreement between MBDA France and Danish Terma. Responding to media questions on the joint programme developments, an MBDA representative confirmed that the industrial team "is working on a demonstrator to be showed to the customers and we expect to have a product fully developed by 2030." Conceived and proposed as a fully autonomous self-protection system with command, control, sensors and deeper magazine based on the MBDA Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile, "the SPIMM is offered as a stand-alone comprehensive plug-and play solution to protect any vessel, being it military without a self-protection system and combat management system (CMS), namely support ships, or merchant ships, alongside critical infrastructures at sea, such as oil rigs, or ashore installations", he continued. The recent crisis and military operations in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Sea, highlighted the need to protect both military support vessels and high value civilian shipping such as liquefied natural gas vessels sailing in choke points such as the Hormuz or the Bab el-Mandeb straits. The new SPIMM suite is based on an ISO standard 10-foot platform with corner twist-locks attachments featuring a forward lower structure with folding footbridge to maintain the upper-based SIMBAD RC-4 launcher for Mistral 3 missiles. "The underneath module is divided into two compartments served each by side access doors respectively for electronics and ammunitions storage, the latter being capable to accommodate up to eight munitions," he explained. The rear and higher structure of the container has been designed to host a command-and-control compartment for two operators with side access, and an elevated superstructure to accommodate surveillance sensors. Terma provides the C2 and the sensors suite while the two operators consoles, one devoted to weapon control and the other to surveillance and tracking, reuse the SIMBAD-RC ones with interfaces and dedicated screens for C2 and surveillance. "The sensors suite is centred on a surveillance and tracking radar being a Saab Sea Giraffe 1X or Terma equivalent radar which can be sided but not necessarily by EO/IR systems," the MBDA representative added. Power supply and communication interfaces are needed to operate the system and provide audio connection with the bridge. Photos and graphics courtesy MBDA

Associated Press
Oct 12th, 2026
Fortem and MBDA expand partnership to add autonomous counter-drone interceptors to European air defences

Fortem Technologies has expanded its partnership with European weapons maker MBDA to build Fortem's autonomous counter-drone systems into the air-defence networks of MBDA's customers in Europe and worldwide. The deal builds on a 2024 collaboration that integrated Fortem's DroneHunter interceptor into MBDA's Sky Warden system. MBDA will now offer DroneHunter, which captures drones with a net, as an added layer to existing defences. Sales are subject to export authorisations. The companies will also jointly offer FireThorn, an autonomous interceptor that pairs Fortem's radar-guided airframe with an MBDA NATO-approved warhead. It is designed to defeat one-way attack drones such as Shaheds/Gerans and Orlans. "Militaries don't need another standalone gadget," said Fortem chief executive officer Jon Gruen. FireThorn will be shown at the AUSA convention in Washington, October 12-14.

Morningstar
Oct 12th, 2026
Fortem Technologies and MBDA expand partnership to build autonomous counter-drone protection into European and allied air defenses.

Fortem Technologies and MBDA expand partnership to build autonomous counter-drone protection into European and allied air defenses. Provided by Business Wire Oct 11, 2026, 10:00:00 PM Strategic agreement enables defense and government customers to integrate Fortem's DroneHunter(R) and FireThorn(R) systems into MBDA air defense architectures Fortem Technologies, a leader in layered airspace security and defense, today announced an expanded strategic partnership with European complex weapon systems leader MBDA to integrate Fortem's autonomous counter-drone systems into the air-defense architectures operated by MBDA's defense and government customers across Europe and worldwide. FireThorn(R), a fully autonomous interceptor co-developed by Fortem Technologies and MBDA, pairs an MBDA NATO-approved warhead with Fortem's Ground-Launched Air-to-Air Munitions (G-LAAM) airframe, shown here. Designed to defeat one-way attack drones and other hostile uncrewed aircraft - including Shaheds/Gerans and Orlans - FireThorn combines Fortem's high-speed, radar-guided autonomous airframe with kinetic defeat capability. FireThorn is part of an expanded strategic partnership between Fortem and MBDA to integrate Fortem's autonomous counter-drone systems into the air-defense architectures operated by MBDA's defense and government customers across Europe and worldwide. The agreement builds on a technical collaboration established in 2024 that integrated Fortem's DroneHunter(R) autonomous interceptor into MBDA's Sky Warden(R) counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) architecture. Under the expanded partnership, MBDA will offer DroneHunter interceptors, allowing operators to add Fortem's capabilities as a layer to their existing air defense networks rather than deploying a standalone system. Sales are subject to applicable export authorizations. The companies will also jointly offer FireThorn(R), a fully autonomous interceptor co-developed by Fortem and MBDA. Designed to defeat one-way attack drones and other hostile uncrewed aircraft, including both Shaheds/Gerans and Orlans, FireThorn pairs Fortem's high-speed, radar-guided autonomous airframe with an MBDA NATO-approved warhead for kinetic defeat. The combined portfolio provides defense forces with complementary, mission-adaptable defeat options: * FireThorn delivers a hard-kill effector for high-threat engagement scenarios. * DroneHunter provides low-collateral net capture for high-density environments where protecting surrounding infrastructure or recovering intact drone evidence is critical. "Drones have changed how wars are fought, and air defense must change with them," said Fortem Technologies CEO Jon Gruen, who announced the expanded partnership with MBDA ahead of attending the 2026 Warsaw Security Forum. "Militaries don't need another standalone gadget. They need autonomous interceptors that plug into the architecture they already trust. Working with MBDA puts Fortem's systems inside one of Europe's most established air defense ecosystems, and gives allied forces a faster route to protecting troops, bases, and critical infrastructure." FireThorn will be on display at MBDA's booth #453 at the 2026 AUSA convention, taking place Oct. 12-14 in Washington. About Fortem Technologies Fortem Technologies is a global leader in airspace security, delivering solutions that protect against today's autonomous aerial threats while ensuring the safety of tomorrow's advanced air mobility. Fortem's AI-powered SkyDome(R) Family of Systems combines TrueView(R) sensors, command-and-control software, and autonomous DroneHunter(R) interceptors to defend military, government, and commercial operations worldwide from hostile or unauthorized drones. Fortem is the only company authorized to deploy a drone-on-drone kinetic interceptor in U.S. airspace, and its technology has been validated in operational deployments in Ukraine, the Middle East, and East Asia. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, Fortem is privately held and backed by Lockheed Martin, DCVC, Toshiba, AE Industrial Partners, AIM13, Signia Venture Partners, and others. To learn more, visit https://fortemtech.com. The articles, information, and content displayed on this webpage may include materials prepared and provided by third parties. Such third-party content is offered for informational purposes only and is not endorsed, reviewed, or verified by Morningstar. Morningstar makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any third-party content displayed on this site. The views and opinions expressed in third-party content are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Morningstar, its affiliates, or employees. Morningstar is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or delays in this content, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Users are advised to exercise their own judgment and seek independent financial advice before making any decisions based on such content. The third-party providers of this content are not affiliated with Morningstar, and their inclusion on this site does not imply any form of partnership, agency, or endorsement.

TMCnet
Oct 12th, 2026
Fortem Technologies and MBDA Expand Partnership to Build Autonomous Counter-Drone Protection into European and Allied Air Defenses

Fortem Technologies and MBDA Expand Partnership to Build Autonomous Counter-Drone Protection into European and Allied Air Defenses TMCnet News [October 12, 2026] | / | Fortem Technologies and MBDA Expand Partnership to Build Autonomous Counter-Drone Protection into European and Allied Air Defenses Fortem Technologies, a leader in layered airspace security and defense, today announced an expanded strategic partnership with European complex weapon systems leader MBDA to integrate Fortem's autonomous counter-drone systems into the air-defense architectures operated by MBDA's defense and government customers across Europe and worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261011817816/en/ FireThorn(R), a fully autonomous interceptor co-developed by Fortem Technologies and MBDA, pairs an MBDA NATO-approved warhead with Fortem's Ground-Launched Air-to-Air Munitions (G-LAAM) airframe, shown here. Designed to defeat one-way attack drones and other hostile uncrewed aircraft - including Shaheds/Gerans and Orlans - FireThorn combines Fortem's high-speed, radar-guided autonomous airframe with kinetic defeat capability. FireThorn is part of anexpanded strategic partnership between Fortem and MBDA to integrate Fortem's autonomous counter-drone systems into the air-defense architectures operated by MBDA's defense and government customers across Europe and worldwide. The agreement builds on a technical collaboration established in 2024 that integrated Fortem's DroneHunter(R) autonomous interceptor into MBDA's Sky Warden(R) counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) architecture. Under the expanded partnership, MBDA will offer DroneHunter interceptors, allowing operators to add Fortem's capabilities as a layer to their existing air defense networks rather than deploying a standalone system. Sales are subject to applicable export authorizations. The companies will also jointly offer FireThorn(R), a fully autonomous interceptor co-developed by Fortem and MBDA. Designed to defeat one-way attack drones and other hostile uncrewed aircraft, including both Shaheds/Gerans and Orlans, FireThorn pairs Fortem's high-speed, radar-guided autonomous airframe with an MBDA NATO-approved warhead for kinetic defeat. The combined portfolio provides defense forces with complementary, mission-adaptable defeat options: * FireThorn delivers a hard-kill effector for high-threat engagement scenarios. * DroneHunter provides low-collateral net capture for high-density environments where protecting surrounding infrastructure or recovering intact drone evidence is critical. "Drones have changed how wars are fought, and air defense must change with them," said Fortem Technologies CEO Jon Gruen, who announced the expanded partnership with MBDA ahead of attending the 2026 Warsaw Security Forum. "Militaries don't need another standalone gadget. They need autonomous interceptors that plug into the architecture they already trust. Working with MBDA puts Fortem's systems inside one of Europe's most established air defense ecosystems, and gives allied forces a faster route to protecting troops, bases, and critical infrastructure." FireThorn will be on display at MBDA's booth #453 at the 2026 AUSA convention, taking place Oct. 12-14 in Washington. About Fortem Technologies Fortem Technologies is a global leader in airspace security, delivering solutions that protect against today's autonomous aerial threats while ensuring the safety of tomorrow's advanced air mobility. Fortem's AI-powered SkyDome(R) Family of Systems combines TrueView(R) sensors, command-and-control software, and autonomous DroneHunter(R) interceptors to defend military, government, and commercial operations worldwide from hostile or unauthorized drones. Fortem is the only company authorized to deploy a drone-on-drone kinetic interceptor in U.S. airspace, and its technology has been validated in operational deployments in Ukraine, the Middle East, and East Asia. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, Fortem is privately held and backed by Lockheed Martin, DCVC, Toshiba, AE Industrial Partners, AIM13, Signia Venture Partners, and others. To learn more, visit https://fortemtech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261011817816/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage] |

Indian Defence Research Wing
Oct 2nd, 2026
India's PL-15E intelligence gains French attention.

India's PL-15E intelligence gains French attention. The Indian Air Force's experiences during Operation Sindoor are a subject of study in France, with the campaign's massive air operations offering lessons to European air forces, as they train for a more contested airspace. Indian Air Force French Air and Space Force Vice-Chief Lieutenant General Dominique Tardif, who was visiting India to observe Tarang Shakti 2026, told news agency ANI that France was studying India's experimental experience, especially the very dense concentration of aircraft simultaneously operating in the same battlespace. Tardif said this was something he thought Western air forces had not experienced at such a scale since the Second World War. However, IDRW has learned that French interest in India's combat experience goes beyond the larger operational lessons of the conflict. According to sources, France has also expressed an interest in India's use of recoverable Chinese-origin PL-15E surface-attack air-to-air missile parts, specifically the missile's seeker, guidance architecture and associated electronic systems. Discover more Defence industry analysis Defense Industry India recovered debris of the PL-15 missile in operation, while later reports indicated that relatively intact parts, including hardware associated with the missile's seeker system, were available for technical analysis. RUSI reported in May 2025 that detecting an intact PL-15E could provide an opportunity to evaluate its Chinese AESA seeker technology. Later reports have said that Indian teams extracted electronic-system-related data regarding its characteristics and guidance architecture. If France gets access to such data, it could find useful applications in electronic-warfare and missile-technology development activities. The use of the PL-15E during Operation Sindoor has attracted a lot of interest as the BVR combat relies heavily on electronic warfare. Indian defense sources have stated that the inability of several Pakistani-fired PL-15Es to hit their targets was due to India's electronic warfare activity and the PAF's employment tactics. idrw reported that the Rafale's SPECTRA system and other Indian electronic warfare systems thwarted the threat. Tardif also confirmed that France is encouraging MBDA to develop a longer-range air-to-air missile. He also said that France was monitoring systems like the PL-15 and R-37, and has put pressure on MBDA to develop a more capable and longer-range missile quickly. India Strategic This requirement directly relates to the combat architecture planned for the future Rafale fleet. While France and India both operate the MBDA Meteor missile, the advent of Chinese and Russian longer-range systems is spurring interest in next-generation air-to-air missile systems. For India, studying French analysis of PL-15E technology could have broader implications beyond France, especially as India acquires larger numbers of Rafales and develops greater indigenous capabilities in electronic warfare. Discover more South Asians & Diaspora Defence Industry Defence Industries The French interest thus could be an important avenue of aviation cooperation: Indian combat experience and data on foreign missile systems could inform the evolution of French missile and EW systems, while French expertise and systems analysis could help shape the future of India's future fleet of Rafales and the combat aviation ecosystem. EDITED BY RAUNAK KUNDE AFI articles are crafted by Aditya, Farhan, and Ishaan - seasoned content writers specializing in the Indian defense sector.With a decade of mainstream media experience each, they bring authoritative analysis, deep domain expertise, and well-researched insights to coverage of military strategy, defense procurement, and national security developments in India.Article cannot be reproduced without written permission. Aerospace & Defense