Ground Trials Lead - Environmental Data Gathering in Bristol

Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 4-5 days per week on-site due to workload classification

Security Clearance: British Citizen. 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 opportunity:

An opportunity has arisen for a Ground Trials Manager within the Integration and Missile Validation function. Reporting to the Chief Systems Proving Engineer (CSPE), you will be responsible for the management and delivery of all ground trials activities throughout the next phase of development. This will include trundle trial, environmental data gathering and robustness activities.

You will be a key senior member of the programme, leading the ground trial activities as well as having the opportunity to support all ISV activities across the programme including functional integration and flight trials. You will interface with different project customers and stakeholders and will be required to have a hands-on and practical approach in the planning and conduct of proving activities. Due to the fast-paced nature of the programme you will be required to have a pragmatic approach to trials activities as requirements and options will change rapidly.

Key responsibilities of the role are:

• Define, lead and manage the ground trials activities including environmental, mechanical and trundle trials.
• Ensure accurate instrumentation, repeatable test configurations, and disciplined data capture
• Work closely with system design teams and integration facilities to define activities and ensure completion within tight programme timescales.
• Working with non-engineering functions to manage the external to MBDA programmes: contracts and progress, reqts, test compliance, schedule etc.
• Management and Oversight of trials conduct process adherence (PTCC, TRR, Trials Conduct) etc.
• Work Package Management responsibility for the packages of work delegated from the CSPE
• Establish and maintain working groups for Assurance and trials delivery stakeholder groups

What we are looking for from you:

Due to the stage of the programme, we are looking for an individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is agile and adaptable. The role would suit someone who is:

• A competent ground trials lead who can deliver an appropriate balance of technical delivery, strategic programme management and people/resource management.
• Decisive, adaptable and calm under pressure
• Able to make decisions, sometimes without complete information
• A proactive problem solver who can anticipate challenges, take initiatives to address these, and can adapt solutions as new information appears
• Passionate and enjoys complex challenges
• An innovative, creative and practical thinker who can shape how proving is done in the future
• An effective communicator, able to communicate decisions, priorities and expectations efficiently and clearly.

We are also looking for the following experience and skills:

• Experience in mechanical and climatic trials or tests is preferable
• Good understanding of test methodologies for the conduct of ground trials for a weapon system.
• Familiarity using general commercial Lab test equipment.
• Familiarity using data analysis tools/methods.
• An appreciation of electronics technologies and the sorts of products that MBDA design and produces would be an advantage.
• Communication skills, especially progress reporting, facilitating investigations and resource/facility planning

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.