📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Actuation Systems - Equipment Chief Systems Engineer
• Company: MBDA
• Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
• Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (3 days on-site)
• Category: Systems Engineering, Defence Industry
• Date Posted: 2025-06-27
• Experience Level: 5-10 years
• Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead systems engineering design activities within the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence, delivering Actuation Systems for UK and International projects.
• Liaise with various engineering disciplines and influence systems design decisions to deliver value outcomes.
• Manage a systems engineering team, developing individual skills and driving outcomes for the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence.
• Collaborate with project customers, engineering domain specialists, and experts across the UK and Europe.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong systems engineering background and proven experience in managing teams and stakeholders in a defence or aerospace industry context.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

• Systems Engineering Leadership: Apply systems engineering processes, methods, and tools to develop complex products, ensuring high integrity solutions are delivered.
• Stakeholder Management: Manage stakeholders, including project customers, engineering domain specialists, and experts, to ensure technical input is realistic and successful.
• Team Management: Manage a systems engineering team, driving both individual skill development and team outcomes for the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence.
• Project Coordination: Coordinate engineering tasks and work packages across multiple contracts, delivering value outcomes and managing technical complexity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a hands-on approach to systems engineering, with a strong focus on managing both technical complexity and influencing stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a related field. A relevant postgraduate qualification would be an advantage.

Experience: Proven experience in systems engineering, ideally within the defence or aerospace industry, with a track record of delivering high integrity systems. Experience in managing teams and working with stakeholders is essential.

Required Skills:

• Practical application of systems engineering processes, methods, and tools.
• Experience in managing engineering tasks and work packages to deliver value outcomes.
• Proven ability to manage stakeholders, including project customers, engineering domain specialists, and experts.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Experience in managing a systems engineering team to develop individual skills and drive team outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the defence or aerospace industry.
• Familiarity with Actuation Systems and their application in defence projects.
• Knowledge of relevant defence standards and regulations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, experience with relevant defence standards and regulations, as well as familiarity with Actuation Systems, would be highly beneficial for this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Circa £75,000 depending on experience.

Benefits:

• Company bonus: Up to 27% (based on company performance and will vary year to year)
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Healthcare
• Car Allowance: £300 per month
• Flexible working
• 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: Subsidised meals, free car parking, and more…

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on the job listing and is subject to change. It is recommended to verify the salary range directly with the hiring organization.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defence and aerospace industry, with a focus on delivering high integrity solutions for defence projects.

Company Size: Large, with a global presence and a significant number of employees.

Founded: 1989, as a result of a merger between British Aerospace Dynamics, Matra Defense, and Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles.

Team Structure:

• Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence, within the Operations Directorate.
• Collaborates with various engineering disciplines and internal project customers in the UK and Europe.

Development Methodology:

• Systems engineering processes, methods, and tools are applied to develop complex products.
• Agile methodologies may be used for project management, depending on the specific project requirements.

Company Website: MBDA Careers

📝 Enhancement Note: MBDA is a leading defence organisation that partners with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom. They are proud of their employee-led networks, including Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, and more.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence within the Operations Directorate.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant technical impact on the delivery of Actuation Systems for UK and International projects, ensuring high integrity solutions are delivered.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunities for career progression within the systems engineering function.
• Potential to work on diverse and challenging defence projects.
• Chance to develop individual skills and capabilities through managing a systems engineering team.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, there may be opportunities for career progression within the systems engineering function, as well as the chance to work on diverse and challenging defence projects.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid, with 3 days per week on-site at the Stevenage location.

Office Location(s): Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative workspace with various engineering disciplines and internal project customers.
• Access to relevant tools and resources for systems engineering tasks.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible working arrangements available.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, the work schedule for this role is likely to be standard office hours, with the possibility of flexible working arrangements.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

1. Online application and CV screening.
2. Technical interview, focusing on systems engineering processes, methods, and tools, as well as experience in managing engineering tasks and work packages.
3. Stakeholder management and team leadership assessment.
4. Final interview with the hiring manager.

Portfolio Review Tips: Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

• Brush up on systems engineering processes, methods, and tools.
• Prepare examples of managing engineering tasks and work packages, as well as stakeholder management and team leadership experiences.
• Research MBDA and the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence to demonstrate a strong understanding of the company and the role.

ATS Keywords: Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values: Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

Collaboration Style:

• Collaborative workspace with various engineering disciplines and internal project customers.
• Regular liaison with a broad range of engineering disciplines and internal project customers in the UK and Europe.
• Influencing systems design decisions and delivering value outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, the collaboration style for this role is likely to be highly collaborative, with a focus on influencing systems design decisions and delivering value outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

• Managing engineering tasks and work packages across multiple contracts.
• Ensuring high integrity solutions are delivered for defence projects.
• Influencing systems design decisions and delivering value outcomes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunities for career progression within the systems engineering function.
• Potential to work on diverse and challenging defence projects.
• Chance to develop individual skills and capabilities through managing a systems engineering team.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, there may be opportunities for career progression within the systems engineering function, as well as the chance to work on diverse and challenging defence projects.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

• Systems engineering processes, methods, and tools.
• Experience in managing engineering tasks and work packages.
• Stakeholder management and team leadership.
• Defence industry experience and relevant standards and regulations.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding of MBDA and the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence.
• Alignment with MBDA's values and employee-led networks.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy: Not applicable for this role, as it is focused on systems engineering rather than web development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, it is essential to demonstrate a strong understanding of MBDA and the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence, as well as alignment with their values and employee-led networks.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this systems engineering role:

1. Submit your application through the application link provided.
2. Tailor your CV to highlight your relevant systems engineering experience and skills.
3. Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your systems engineering knowledge and preparing examples of your experience in managing engineering tasks and work packages, as well as stakeholder management and team leadership.
4. Research MBDA and the Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence to demonstrate a strong understanding of the company and the role.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and defence industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.