Software Modelling Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship 2026

Software Modelling Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship 2027

Salary: £23,000 plus a £3000 joining bonus

Location: Bristol

Duration: 4 years

Learning Provider: University Centre Weston - Winter Gardens

Due to the need to attend your MBDA site and the training provider as required for your apprenticeship, applicants need to ensure their home or rental location is appropriate, travel arrangements are manageable and travel time is minimised as required for your role.

The qualification: You'll study for a Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship, Software pathway. Your final award will be a BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions.

Find more details about the course here: https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/digital-and-technology-solutions-bsc-hons/

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.

This role is scheduled to close for applications at midnight on Friday 22nd January 2027 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.

What we can offer you:

• Fully funded qualification starting September 2027
• Paid travel expenses to and from your place of study
• Annual pay reviews
• Healthcare Cash Plan : provides support with everyday health related costs - including medical, dental, optical, physio and health & wellbeing
• 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
• Study leave during exam periods

The opportunity:

Study with the University Centre Weston (UCW) will be a blend of day release attendance, e-learning and workplace projects. You can typically expect to be at UCW one day per week; when not studying, you will be working in your home function of Simulation and Modelling and this will typically be onsite at MBDA Bristol for the majority of the rest of the working week.

System modelling is a vital tool used to ensure MBDA provides reliable and cost efficient weapon systems to our customers!

We build a variety of dynamic system performance models, embedded systems and real time models for MBDA products. Our models are developed and used extensively throughout the product lifecycle, from feasibility through to service support. When used internally our performance models allow our system designers to estimate performance which they can use to guide the product design. For our customer, these models provide a method of verifying system performance, whilst reducing reliance on prohibitively expensive testing and trials. Our real time models contribute to training environments for pilots and provide numerous engineering testing capabilities. Once the product is in service, the customer continues to use our models to understand the systems and assist with operator training.

Models of modern weapon systems consist of a large number of automated subsystems integrated together to provide the overall capability. This provides unique challenges when:

• Developing accurate system models that are both large in scale and highly sophisticated with many interdependencies.
• Developing lower fidelity models designed to run at real time whilst maintaining an accurate representation of the weapon system.

As a model developer this means you will often encounter new and exciting challenges which will require you to apply intuition and innovation to optimally tackle!

You will learn how to build simulation software in programming languages/environments such as:

• Mathworks (MATLAB, Simulink and Stateflow)
• Fortran
• C/C++

Our teams implement Agile working practices and dynamic working across multiple projects to meet demand, aided by the use of collaborative tools. We work closely with other departments and companies to integrate subsystem models and design data. From these interactions you'll gain a broad understanding of each subsystem that makes up the weapon, and how the system architecture integrates the subsystems to provide an overall capability.

Placements outside the department are also encouraged for our apprentices to gain knowledge of the wider business.

What we’re looking for from you:

This role has specific qualification and subject criteria so please make sure you carefully check your eligibility against this criteria before applying otherwise your application will not be considered. If you are currently studying and predicted to meet these requirements by the start date you are welcome to apply.

GCSEs:

A minimum of 5 GCSEs at a minimum of grade 4

This must include:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Any Science or Technology subject

After GCSEs:

After your GCSEs you must have completed one of the following and achieved 120 UCAS Tariff points:

• A levels: Three A levels totalling 120 UCAS Tariff points, including A level Mathematics and either a Science OR Computing/Computer Science subject, with no individual grade below C.
• T level: T Level in Engineering or Computing with a minimum Merit grade.
• BTEC: A single Level 3 Extended Diploma in Maths, Science, IT OR Engineering at a minimum grade of DDM. Those applying with a Science, IT or Engineering subject must provide evidence of completing a Further Maths module.

Please note: We look at entry criteria based on your top three full A Levels or equivalent qualifications (BTEC/T Level). We do not include UCAS points gained from an Extended Project Qualification. Additionally, as an employer we set our own entry criteria based on the requirements of this role. This means that the criteria above may differ from the university.

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.

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