MBDA reviews

- Progression based on age rather than ability or experience (I was told directly to "wait ten years" before considering a minor promotion) - Stagnant salary and little chance to change it - A culture of gold plating and indecisiveness leads to troubled projects - Success is defined as following process and being very risk averse (no matter if it makes a poor product that is over budget and behind schedule) - Senior and principal engineer have little decision-making power, because many Chief Engineers aren't confident enough to delegate. Myself and my team were often idle for days as we were waiting for an over-worked and stressed out Chief Engineer to make a minor decision on our behalf.

A lot of the middle management and lower level execs appear to have got to their positions through time served, rather than ability. Perhaps not surprising for a military contractor with such a good pension scheme that pays good salaries (as much as some employees who have never worked elsewhere may think otherwise), with little true focus on cost and efficiency at operational level. These people are able / allowed to put their own interest ahead of that of both the company or customer. It is difficult to influence or achieve real change. Cost is not of great importance to middle management, also not of great interest to middle management are poor performance of lazy gravy train employees, or excessive expenses. The scale of politics in MBDA UK and between the different national operating companies can at times be demotivating and constraining upon work, but equally is a great challenge for anyone looking to make a long term career in the defence industry (in which politics are of course fundamental and to be expected, but none the less can be grating). For anyone looking for an opportunity to make a lot of money and fade into the background whilst doing very little work, with no repercussions, then maybe MBDA is the perfect company for you, but it is not for me.