Hardware in the Loop Engineer - Summer Placement

Full Job Description

Hardware in the Loop Engineer - Summer Placement

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.

Salary : £20,000 (pro rata) 

Closing date for this role is midnight on Thursday 16th November  

What we can offer you:

• 10 or 12 week summer placement starting June 2024
• Fantastic site facilities, including subsidised meals and free car parking
• A placement that allows you to apply your university learning to real-world engineering projects and technologies
• Flexible working

Working pattern:

Where possible, we will seek to accommodate a blended approach to on-site and remote working, with the majority of the team onsite 75% of the time.

The opportunity

The Hardware in the Loop (HWIL) department is a unique facility that integrates complex missile subsystems and simulates their dynamic flight to optimise missile performance prior to operational firing trials.

In the labs there are Electro-optic (EO), LASER and Radio Frequency (RF) devices, anechoic chambers and multiple axis hydraulic motion tables. Our team has a mixture of technical expertise that enables them to design and develop the electronics equipment needed for the labs; design experiments; create custom software and hardware simulations, and analyse and deliver results to support missile development and evaluation.

In HWIL there are a vast number of opportunities to get ‘hands-on.’ As an undergraduate you may be tasked across different areas including the Air Defence, Tactical Strike or Electro-optical project teams, where you will be involved in testing missile hardware sub-systems (Seeker, Inertial Measurement Unit and Missile Computer) with IR and RF test equipment and state of the art Flight motion simulators. Alternatively you may be part of our capability team who are developing tools and test equipment to test next generation missiles.

HWIL supports and develops through On-The-Job training, a broad range of skills, and is suitable for undergraduates from a wide range of engineering and critical thinking backgrounds.

On the Programme you may have the opportunity to develop many different engineering skills including integration of complex equipment, designing bespoke equipment, problem solving to create and action test procedures. You may also work on a selection of the following:

• Complex functional integration.
• Developing test software, data analysis scripts and control systems (C++, MATLAB, CAD, Linux).
• Learning communication protocols (e.g. RS422, Ethernet, MODBUS, 1553).
• Electronic design and Mechanical design.
• Workshop skills (design and build of lab equipment and cables using pillar drills, hand tools, soldering etc).
• Analysis of HWIL test results to understand missile behavior
• Technical report writing to support trials reviews.

HWIL are a very versatile team, at different stages of their career and each member has their own unique set of skills. The key to such a team is consistent demonstration of passion, team work, innovative ideas, commitment, a lot of communication and support. The team are always looking to discover new solutions and there is always someone to discuss new ideas and concepts with.

What we’re looking for from you

• Currently studying towards a degree in an Engineering (incl. Aeronautical/Aerospace, Electronic/Electrical and Mechanical), Physics, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Control Theory, Systems discipline.
• Basic experience of Matlab/Simulink or software development.

Our Business

We value new perspectives, collaboration, and diversity. We are committed to growing and supporting diversity in our workforce and ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their potential.

We encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), Twitter (@MBDAcareers), Instagram (lifeatMBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information. 

Please Note : MBDA UK Limited requires all employees to achieve the required medical and national security clearance for their role. Further restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may also 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.

Due to the nature of our business, this particular vacancy requires the applicant as a minimum to be a British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship and capable of achieving the clearance levels mentioned above.