Software Engineer - Test Equipment Software

MBDA is looking for Software Engineers to join the Software Resource and Capability Team, working on Test Equipment software in support of manufacturing, production test, integration and wider engineering activities., This is an opportunity to join a growing Test Equipment Software capability supporting MBDA's UK test and manufacturing environment.

Test Equipment Software plays a critical role in enabling the configuration, verification, validation and production testing of MBDA products. The software developed and supported by the team is used alongside specialist Test Equipment hardware to prove product conformance, support manufacturing output, investigate test issues and maintain reliable test capability across development and manufacturing environments.

The role is practical, varied and production (manufacturing) facing. You will develop, maintain, support and improve software used within complex test systems, including test applications, automated test sequences, diagnostic tools, equipment interfaces, data capture, configuration tools and software that interacts with hardware, firmware, operating systems and production test environments.

This is not a role limited to writing code in isolation. It suits engineers who enjoy solving practical engineering problems, working close to real equipment, understanding how software behaves in physical test environments, and helping build reliable, supportable and well documented test solutions.

The team will support both stability and improvement: ensuring existing Test Equipment software remains reliable and available, while identifying opportunities to standardise, automate, improve diagnostics, reduce recurring issues and strengthen long-term supportability.

What you will be doing

You may be involved in:

• Developing and maintaining software used to control, configure, verify and validate MBDA products through Test Equipment
• Supporting production & manufacturing facing Test Equipment software and associated test environments
• Investigating software, hardware, firmware, configuration, interface and integration issues affecting test capability
• Working with engineers and operators to understand symptoms, reproduce issues, gather evidence and support root-cause analysis
• Supporting software updates, maintenance activities and controlled changes to Test Equipment software
• Improving documentation, support notes, runbooks and knowledge capture for critical Test Equipment systems
• Helping identify recurring issues, support risks, software dependencies and improvement opportunities, Employees receive 25 days of paid annual leave per calendar year, in addition to all statutory and public holidays.

After 5, 10 and 15 years of service, an additional day of annual leave is added to your allowance at each of these milestones.

You can also enjoy more time off by purchasing up to an additional five days holiday through payroll., We trust our people to agree, within their teams, where and when they can be most effective. Our Dynamic Working policies allow individuals great levels of flexibility around the hours they work and where they work. Depending on your role and function, this may include options for paid overtime, dynamic leave (time in lieu) and more., Our MBDA Retirement Savings Plan is a 'Defined Contribution' plan in the Mercer Master Trust. The standard contributions are 4% of an employee's base salary and 6% employer contributions. You can increase both employee and employer contributions by up to 2%.

Financial Awareness - Employees have access to free financial webinars hosted throughout the year, along with access to a financial education website which provides plenty of useful hints, tips and guidance on managing financial wellness.

Share Incentive Plan - Acquire shares in our UK Shareholder, BAE Systems PLC, the scheme is tax efficient on shares purchased.

Mortgage Advice - As part of our financial wellbeing initiative employees can access free of charge mortgage advice and webinars.

Season Ticket Loan - Employees can borrow the value of public transport season ticket for bus or train journeys to and from work and spread the cost over 12 months.

Critical Illness - To help reduce the financial impact after being diagnosed with a critical illness, employees receive a tax-free lump sum payment that can be used for any purpose including covering medical expenses, adjustments to lifestyle and more., Employee Assistance Programme - The Employee Assistance Programme is free, independent, confidential and is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year. Employees have access to short-term counselling (which includes up to 8 structured face to face, telephone or virtual sessions).

Voluntary Private Medical Insurance - Private Medical Insurance offers three healthcare plans to suit your individual requirements for you and your family.

Funded Private Medical Insurance - Eligible employees (Grade C & Above) are enrolled as standard into the company funded Private Medical Insurance benefit.

Dental Insurance - The Dental Insurance benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday dental expenses such as, minor treatments, routine examinations, restorative treatment and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits.

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. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits.

Healthcare and Leisure - The Healthcare and Leisure benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as medical fees, dentist fees, opticians and also provides access to special deals and concessions on sporting and recreational facilities.

We are looking for software or electronics engineer with transferable skills into software development and support for Test Equipment solutions.

You should have:

• Strong ability to write software in languages such as C, C++ or C#
• Some Python experience would be useful but is not essential
• A practical engineering mindset and an interest in software that interacts with hardware, equipment, firmware, operating systems or real-world test environments
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability, including the ability to investigate issues where the root cause may not initially be clear
• A willingness to support existing systems as well as develop new or improved software solutions
• A methodical approach to debugging, evidence gathering, documentation and controlled change
• Good communication skills and the ability to work with Software, Electronics, Electrical, Manufacturing, Test, Validation and Product Design Support teams
• An interest in mission-critical engineering where software quality, test reliability and production continuity matter

You will enjoy this role if you like solving practical technical problems, working close to real products and equipment, and being part of a team that helps keep critical test capability stable, understood and improving over time.

Useful experience

Experience in any of the following would be beneficial, but is not essential:

• Test Equipment software or automated test systems
• Software that interfaces with test instruments such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, signal generators, power supplies, multimeters or similar equipment
• Hardware/software integration
• Manufacturing or production support environments
• Diagnostic or data capture tools
• Equipment interfaces such as serial, Ethernet, USB, GPIB or similar
• Windows or Linux-based test environments
• Firmware or embedded systems awareness
• LabVIEW, TestStand or similar test tools

Configuration management, version control or working in safety-critical, regulated or high-integrity engineering environments

Salary: £40,000 - £65000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 4 to 5 Days a week in the office

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…, We recognise that having or adopting a child is a significant life event for our employees and as a family friendly employer we offer a range of enhanced family leave provisions to support employees before, during and after a period of leave.

Our 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.

We also offer 2 weeks enhanced pay for paternity leave, and neonatal care leave for up to 12 weeks where a period of extended hospital care is required after birth. Employees also have access to support whilst undergoing fertility testing and treatments.

Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers

Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers

Discounts - The Discounts platform includes a great range of features such as: discounts, instant vouchers, reloadable cards, easy saver cards, cashback, mobile app and Wellbeing Centre.

Costco - Permanent employees of MBDA qualify for Costco's individual membership.

Technology Vouchers - Purchase the latest gadgets and white goods up to the value of £2,500 and spread the cost over 12 months.

Charity Donations - Donate up to five charities each month, with full tax relief on all donations.

MyCar Scheme - The MBDA MyCar Scheme offers employees the opportunity to access up to two new vehicles via a salary sacrifice arrangement including an all-inclusive package.

Holiday Purchase - Purchase up to 5 days' extra holiday whilst making tax and National Insurance savings, spreading the cost over 12 months., Development of our people is of vital importance to us at MBDA, which is why we ensure everyone has access to the teams, tools and resources needed to achieve their goals. This includes our dedicated in-house Learning & Development team, our Apprenticeship programmes, a variety of online learning platforms, and much more.

We encourage new learning and will provide up to £150 in financial support per year if you wish to participate in further study in your own time.

If you lead a team, or hope to do so in the future, we offer a range of management training opportunities, with paths designed for people of all experience levels.

Dynamic Working

We want our people to work when and where they feel they can be most effective. For most of our employees, we have a flexi-time scheme that allows you to choose, within certain parameters, when you start and finish each day and how you can use time you have accrued.

For roles that do not have to be based on one of our sites full-time, you will have opportunities to work from home as part of your agreed Dynamic Working arrangement.

If you have worked the time, you are also able to accrue and take up to 15 days of Flexi-leave per annum, in addition to the 25 days of annual leave provided and bank holidays.

Security Clearance

All employees at MBDA are required to hold UK Security or BPSS Clearance.

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 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., Healthworks Gym Membership - The Healthworks on-site gym at our Stevenage site offers a range of facilities and equipment, alongside a variety of classes available during the week. Annual Gym Membership - Take advantage of discounted membership at over 3,600 of the UK's leading gym chains, leisure centres, hotel health clubs, independent gyms, boot camps and yoga studios. The Club -The Club provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy great social activities - from theatre trips, days out, to sporting activities., We're proud to be a nationally recognised employer at MBDA. We have received a range of employer awards including Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2022; Gold awards from Investors in People, the 5% Club, and Armed Forces Covenant. We are also currently ranked #1 in the UK's Best Big Companies to Work For 2022 league table, as well as #1 for Manufacturing.