Mechanical Engineering Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship 2026
Salary: £18,750 plus a £3,000 joining bonus
Location: Stevenage
Learning provider: University of Hertfordshire
Security clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship. After offer stage all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS) managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.
Closing date for this role: midnight on 23rd January 2026 (subject to application volumes)
What we can offer you
* Fully funded qualification starting September 2026
* Paid travel expenses to and from your place of study
* Annual pay reviews
* 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
* Study leave during exam periods
The opportunity
There are three streams within the Mechanical Degree Apprenticeship that you may join. During the recruitment process we will assess which role you are best suited for.
Customer Support Services
Customer Support & Services (CSS) has overall responsibility for the definition, development and delivery of support and service packages for all MBDA products, with the aim of continually being able to meet the most demanding of our customers' requirements.
Roles include:
* Developing and implementing affordable and innovative support solutions covering the entire range of prime equipment as well as support equipment, training, documentation, test benches and simulators.
* Maintaining through life the product support policy for the MBDA product portfolio, up to and including disposal/de‑militarisation.
* Providing all required support services to our customers for in‑service products, ensuring availability levels are maintained, technical assistance is provided as required, and modifications and mid‑life updates are managed and implemented.
On this apprenticeship you'll complete rotational placements in:
* Supportability Engineering
* In‑Service Teams
* Support Services
* Mechanical / Electronic Engineering
* Human Factors
* Training and Field Support Engineering
* Technical Publications
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering & Facilities (EE&F) provides MBDA with the ability to simulate real world mechanical and climatic environments. Our Environmental Engineers provide expertise throughout the product lifecycle and generate evidence to demonstrate that our products are safe, suitable for service and meet our customer's expectations.
Placements within Environmental Engineering include:
* Mechanical and Climatic Test
* Structural Test
* Facility Maintenance
* Trials & Data Analysis
* Mechanical & Climatic Project
Mechanical Engineering
You will gain experience of a product lifecycle which will provide the foundations to build the expertise required to design, make and test the next generation of missile system hardware.
Typical placements in this stream can include:
* Mechanical Design
* Mechanical Future Concepts
* Actuation Systems
* Mechanical Analysis
* Materials and Processes
* Environmental Engineering
You will study for a BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree at University of Hertfordshire one day a week, while the remainder of your working week will be spent putting into practice everything you are learning in a real life environment.
Programme structure
For this 4‑year programme you will study towards a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Hertfordshire one day a week, with the remainder of your working week putting into practice everything you are learning in a real life environment via your placements. Course delivery will be a blend of virtual and face‑to‑face learning.
During the third and fourth years you will have the freedom to select placements to suit particular areas of interest and developmental needs, supported by an industrial mentor. There will also be a great opportunity for an external placement with another MBDA function or with an external organisation or an associated MBDA supplier.
During the fourth year you will complete an individual research project with the option for this to be an industry-sponsored project in partnership with MBDA.
MBDA will assist in achieving Professional qualification through the IMechE, IET or RAeS.
What we're looking for from you
This role has specific qualification and subject criteria so please make sure you carefully check your eligibility against this criteria before applying. If you are currently studying and predicted to meet these requirements by the start date you are welcome to apply.
GCSEs
A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9–4, including:
* English Language
* Mathematics
* Any Science or Technology subject
After GCSEs
You must have completed one of the following and achieved 120 UCAS Tariff points:
* 3 x A levels including Maths AND Physics or Technology/Engineering subject. Applicants must have achieved grades A* to C. Grades below a C will not be considered.
* BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering at a minimum grade of DDM, including a Distinction in Further Maths module.
* T-Level at Merit or Distinction in an Engineering subject.
We look at entry based on your top three full A Levels or equivalent qualifications (BTEC/T Level). We do not include UCAS points gained from an Extended Project Qualification. Additionally, as an employer we set our own entry criteria based on the requirements of this role. This means that the criteria above may differ from the university.
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.
We are proud of our employee‑led networks including 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
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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