Actuation Systems Equipment Testing Lead
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
£41,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2481 (69% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £41,700, and MBDA UK Limited is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 2129 (Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified) or SOC 2123 (Electrical engineers). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2481 Quality control and planning engineers Most likely code | £33,400 Clears | £33,400 Clears | £37,500 Clears | £41,700 Clears |
2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified Also possible | £33,400 Clears | £36,900 Clears | £41,500 Clears | £46,100 Clears |
2123 Electrical engineers Also possible | £41,100 Clears | £47,000 Clears | £52,900 Clears | £58,700 Clears |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. A mark is for the top of the advertised pay. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
The Actuation Systems Centre of Excellence Servo domain are looking for experienced testing engineer to lead and define testing strategies across the full lifecycle of our products.
Salary: Between £55,000 - £60,000 depending on experience
Dynamic (hybrid) working: 3-4 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 servo domain work within a multi-disciplinary design team responsible for the design, development and testing of Actuation Systems, which ensures customer performance requirements are successfully met.
This role focusses on contributing to the testing strategy and execution of tests for Actuation Systems which will include component level testing, as well as full actuation systems.
You will be responsible for building the testing capability within the team over a wide range of projects, promoting best practices and documentation delivery to ensure varying levels of compliance evidence can be sought towards product certification and the generation of analysis scripts and diagnosing fault conditions identified throughout the product lifecycle. The Actuation Systems Equipment Testing lead will be involved in finding innovative solutions throughout the testing phases and may be exposed to other activities within the servo role to strengthen the understanding and needs of the team
Your role will involve supporting the Design Verification Planning for Actuators ensuring sufficient coverage of tests contributing to compliance and have the ability to generate design proving test specifications at all levels with the appropriate data analysis methods to support. There will be interactions across the multi-functional actuation teams.
You will influence the current and future direction for testing Actuation Systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders.
What we’re looking for from you:
- Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
- Technical leadership experience
- Strong understanding of dynamic systems and testing, which include mechanical systems, motors and sensors.
- Knowledge of electric motors and drive / communication strategies to support low level testing.
- dSPACE proficient or equivalent to enable testing
- Experienced user of MATLAB & Simulink for data analysis
- Experience with DOORs tools is desirable
- Requirements generation and definitions to support testing campaigns
- Technical documentation generation
- Proven experience of process improvement and being a part of a continuous improvement culture
- Strong communicator with the ability to influence, collaborate and network
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.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with MBDA UK Limited, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Quality control and planning engineers (SOC 2481) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~52k in sample- Middle half £35,620–52,676
- Median £43,576
- Going rate £41,700
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £33,400–37,100
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at MBDA UK LimitedAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. MBDA UK Limited holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2481 going rate of £41,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.