As ILS Manager I am responsible for developing and defining the support solution for a weapon system. In essence this means that my team and I are ensuring that once our equipment reaches the hands of the user, they are sufficiently trained and equipped with all the necessary resources to operate the weapon system effectively.
I think the biggest surprise to me was the friendliness amongst all staff within MBDA. Having come from a very regimented and discipline-driven work environment, working at MBDA was a breath of fresh air. Everyone was friendly, polite, courteous and professional. I was treated as an adult and as an equal from the outset, which made transitioning into the business and out of the Army a very easy thing to do.
For me, the best thing about working at MBDA is the facilities. The Stevenage site has fantastic offices, a brilliant, subsidised canteen, awesome gym, ample parking, sports and social club – the list goes on. It makes you feel very valued, and that your employer really cares about their staff.
I am continually encouraged to develop, both personally and professionally. I have regular reviews with my line manager to ensure all my development needs are captured and suitable training courses are identified. MBDA has a raft of internal courses which help you to develop as an engineer, person or manager, and I have certainly benefitted greatly from undergoing this training. Learning is undertaken through a mixture of virtual training, bespoke classroom sessions or external providers – they all blend to provide the complete training package.
MBDA has a range of different roles suitable to all manner of people. The company actively encourages internal mobility; the ability to change roles within the organisation, and invests heavily in its workforce to ensure their staff are happy, retained and positive. Regular performance reviews mean that you are rewarded for your high performance through promotion and pay rises. Ultimately MBDA want you to stay with the business for many years, so will invest in you to achieve the best you possibly can.
