Full-Time

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Test Equipment

MBDA

MBDA

5,001-10,000 employees

Missile design, development, and manufacturing

Compensation Overview

£55k/yr

+ Bonus up to £2,500 + Overtime

Letchworth Garden City, UK

Hybrid

Relocation package may be offered; hybrid role requires 2-3 on-site days per week.

UK Citizenship Required

Category
Mechanical Engineering (2)
,
Requirements
  • Degree/HND/HNC qualified plus significant experience in Mechanical Design and Development
  • Lead mechanical design work packages and have experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team with the awareness and understanding of the challenges that this may bring
  • Excellent verbal communication, negotiation and influencing skills with the capability to write clear and concise engineering documentation
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal with the ability to influence and negotiate with partners across the business
  • Experience of supplier engagement and development across internal and external multi-disciplinary teams
  • Awareness and understanding of cultural differences with the ability to adapt accordingly
  • A willing, helpful attitude, a calm professional manner, and the ability to assess and set priorities and deal with multiple issues on a regular basis
  • Relevant 3D CAD/CAE experience
  • An understanding of manufacturing processes, design for EMC, connectors to BS & military specifications, tolerance studies environmental test, thermal management design, material selection would be advantageous
  • Security clearance requirements including British Citizenship or dual UK national with British citizenship and BPSS checks after offer
  • Location requirement Stevenage with potential relocation package
Responsibilities
  • Support design, development and proving activities throughout the product lifecycle for a wide range of bespoke test system hardware
  • Lead mechanical design work packages and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams
  • Engage with suppliers and manage supplier development across internal and external teams
  • Produce and review engineering documentation and communicate with partners across the business
  • Apply 3D Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Engineering tools in project work and ensure design for manufacturability
  • Incorporate manufacturing considerations including design for Electromagnetic Compatibility, connectors to British and military specifications, tolerance studies, environmental testing, thermal management, and material selection
Desired Qualifications
  • Understanding and application of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Experience with the preferred CAD tools used by MBDA (training on our tools will be provided)
  • Experience of working in a defence or highly regulated environment is advantageous
  • Cultural awareness and ability to adapt to different working environments as a desirable trait
  • Flexibility for hybrid working with on-site presence expectations may be preferred

MBDA designs, develops, and manufactures missiles and related systems for land, sea, and air forces in Europe and among allies. Its portfolio includes Meteor air-to-air missiles, Brimstone and Storm Shadow cruise missiles, Aster surface-to-air systems, and AKERON anti-tank missiles, plus future technologies like AQUILA hypersonic interceptors and DragonFire directed energy weapons. The company operates through national divisions (France, UK, Italy, Germany) and international joint ventures to ensure interoperability and provide full life-cycle support. Its goal is to strengthen sovereign defense capabilities of European customers and their allies by delivering integrated, multi-domain missile and weapons solutions.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Le Plessis-Robinson, France

Founded

2001

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • €44.4 billion 2025 order backlog ensures multi-year revenue from European rearmament.
  • Roxel acquisition in December 2024 integrates propulsion for faster missile innovation.
  • Aster production doubles in 2026 amid Ukraine-driven air defense demand surge.

What critics are saying

  • US DoD terminates MBDA Inc's Special Security Agreement in 2026 over foreign ownership.
  • Rheinmetall's Skyranger undercuts Aster sales across Europe within 6-12 months.
  • Safran sues MBDA in 2025 over Roxel terms, disrupting Aster propulsion supply.

What makes MBDA unique

  • MBDA merges Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo expertise for integrated European missile systems.
  • 45 weapon systems serve 90 armed forces across air, land, and sea domains.
  • National divisions in France, UK, and Italy preserve sovereign capabilities while enabling global scale.

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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

Yahoo Finance
Mar 26th, 2026
MBDA to double Aster missile production in 2026 amid surging European demand

MBDA, Europe's largest missile maker, plans to double production of its Aster air-defence missile in 2026, CEO Éric Béranger announced. The company will increase overall missile output by 40% this year and double its five-year investment plan to support the expansion. The production surge follows heightened European demand for air defences after conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East exposed capability gaps. MBDA's Aster missiles are used in the SAMP/T system, Europe's only alternative to the American Patriot system. MBDA reported €13.2 billion in order intake for 2025, with its order backlog reaching a record €44.4 billion. Sales rose to €5.8 billion from €4.9 billion. Europe accounted for 70% of orders, reflecting the region's rearmament efforts. The company, owned by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, had already doubled missile production between 2023 and 2025.

MBDA
Sep 5th, 2025
MBDA Employees revealed as finalists for the 2025 LGBTQ+ Defence Awards

Story MBDA employees revealed as finalists for the 2025 LGBTQ+ Defence Awards.

MBDA
May 22nd, 2025
MBDA invests in UK SME, maker of the innovative Hydra drone

MBDA has invested in Hybrid Drones Ltd, a UK SME that produces the pioneering hybrid Jet-Electric Hydra 400 un-crewed aerial vehicle (UAV).This is one of the first investments by MBDA in a UK SME and a step towards future defence partnerships.

GlobalData
Jan 8th, 2025
MBDA acquires full stake in Roxel

MBDA, a European defence group, has successfully completed the acquisition of Roxel, bringing the company into its European defence conglomerate by purchasing the remaining 50% stake from Safran on 19 December 2024.

EDR Magazine
Nov 4th, 2024
Exocet: an evolving family by MBDA

As the Block 3 maintains the same non-coherent seeker of the Block 2 version, to cope with the current and future demanding scenarios in contested and electronically congested environments, and benefiting from latest homing, guidance and navigation technologies, MBDA has introduced an enhanced electronic package for the Block 3c, which is centred on a new J-band active coherent seeker provided by Thales.