About Cobham Ultra
What is Cobham Ultra?
Cobham Ultra (legal entity Ultra Electronics Group) is a UK-headquartered defense electronics business specialising in application-engineered bespoke solutions for mission-critical situations. Operations span four business units: Ultra Maritime (anti-submarine warfare, sonobuoys, naval sonar), Ultra Intelligence & Communications (secure comms, cyber, electronic warfare), Precision Control Systems (motion-control for aerospace and defense), and C16 Ventures.
Ultra Electronics Holdings plc was acquired by Cobham (owned by Advent International) in August 2022 for £2.6 billion and now operates under the Cobham Ultra brand.
Where will I work?
Major UK sites include Greenford (West London — Ultra Maritime / Ocean Systems / sonobuoy production), Tring (Hertfordshire — Ultra I&C Communications), and Loudwater (Buckinghamshire — Ultra Maritime). Additional UK locations plus US sites (Fort Wayne IN, Largo FL, Austin TX, Braintree MA, Kansas) and Australia. Most engineering roles are site-based or hybrid because the work involves classified material handled in secure facilities. Most UK positions require UK security clearance (typically SC or DV).
What is the Cobham Ultra team like?
~4,500 engineers, scientists, programme managers and support staff globally. Around 600+ engineers in the UK alone working on military hardware, satellite communications and national-security programmes.
Work-Life Balance
Cobham Ultra advertises an "Optional 9 day fortnight" in the standard Ultra Maritime UK benefits boilerplate, confirmed across multiple primary-source JDs on their Workday careers portal (ultra.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/ultra-careers):
- Senior Systems Engineer — Greenford
- Senior Mechanical Design Engineer — Greenford
- Manufacturing Engineer — Greenford
- Business Development / Technical Sales — Loudwater
- Prototype Wire Person — Tring (Ultra I&C) wording: "Working Pattern: 9-day fortnight with every other Friday off"
The pattern compresses fortnightly hours into nine working days, with the tenth day off (typically every other Friday). It's opt-in — confirm during the interview process that the benefit applies to your specific role.
Perks and Benefits
- Optional 9-day fortnight (verified verbatim across multiple UK JDs in Ultra Maritime + Ultra I&C).
- TOIL (Time Off In Lieu).
- Flexible working hours.
- 1pm finish on a Friday (mentioned alongside the 9DF as part of Ultra Maritime benefits).
- UK security clearance sponsorship for most engineering roles.
- The Cobham-Ultra Scholarship Programme (£5m investment in UK university students from underrepresented groups in engineering).
- Athena Pathway programme for community engagement.
- Healthcare coverage typical of UK defense employers.
- Pension contribution.
How to Apply
Apply via the Cobham Ultra Workday careers portal at ultra.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/ultra-careers. Most UK roles require eligibility for UK security clearance.