Principal Test Definition Engineer

MBDA are looking to secure an experience candidate to deliver test solutions capability into a leading defence project.

Salary: Circa £53,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 2‑3 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.

What we can offer you:

• 
  
• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (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
  
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
  
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
  
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave – enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
  
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
  
• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.
  

The opportunity:

The role of a Definition Lead is to work with and coordinate the task packages for both internal and external suppliers to develop and deliver test solution, simulators and emulators. This is a varied role ranging from developing requirements, with stakeholders, through to being in a design lab, supporting the acceptance of a test solution and ensuring our Weapon System products can be tested thoroughly and accurately. Either way, you will quickly see the results of your efforts in the realisation of Test Solutions that you can associate with your Engineering abilities.

MBDA is a large engineering organisation that takes a disciplined approach to product development and test, in order to maintain our market leading reputation in Missiles and Missile Systems. Through our test and testability policy, we ensure robustness in the test and data analysis regime for development, integration, manufacturing and in-service products, across an increasing portfolio of projects.

The Test Equipment and Testability mission is to:

• 
  
• Establish world‑class Test Solutions, Environment Simulators and Emulators for use internally to MBDA as well as by our Customer’s Armed Forces
  
• Contribute to MBDA’s international Weapon System Test Equipment Strategy and balancing the need for technology re‑use with the need to exploit emerging technology trends
  
• Apply the Weapon System Test Equipment and Testability Strategies to all new programmes, as well as through‑life enhancement upgrades.
  

If you have a practical mind and you are able to apply logic in challenging or complex situations, then this role could be for you. Candidates do not necessarily need to have an engineering test background to be successful in this role.

What we're looking for from you:

As a Definition Lead, you should be able to demonstrate your ability to:

• 
  
• Define clear requirements and acceptance criteria
  
• Develop and understand interface specifications
  
• Understand and contribute to the key activities in the engineering development lifecycle
  
• Manage schedule, cost, quality and performance metrics for assigned work packages
  
• Work within a multi-discipline engineering team (e.g. Systems, mechanical, electrical, software etc…)
  
• Understand the benefits of re‑use versus new development
  
• Capture transversal engineering stakeholder needs (e.g. Safety, Cyber, Human Factors, Customer Support Services, etc)
  

In addition, as your knowledge and experience grows, you may be expected to:

• 
  
• Run peer and design reviews
  
• Limit technical risks through application of mitigation strategies
  
• Grow your professional network through our multi‑national defence organisation
  

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

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.

We are proud of our employee‑led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…

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.