Industrial Process Engineering - Level 6 Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship
Thales · South West · BA8 0DH
About the role
Ready to kickstart your career in engineering? 🚀 Thales is looking for bright minds like yours to join our Industry Team at Templecombe as a Manufacturing Engineer Apprentice! If you're curious, passionate about how things work, and want to get paid while earning a degree, this is your chance! 💡
What's in it for you?
- Earn While You Learn: Get a salary 💰 while you study for your degree.
- Real-World Experience: Dive into hands-on engineering tasks in a leading global company. 🌍
- Top-Tier Training: Receive specialised training and development tailored to your role.
- Recognised Qualification: Achieve a respected engineering qualification. 🎓
- Secure Your Future: Start with a permanent role from day one.
- Fully Funded Education: We'll cover your tuition fees! 💯
About the Role:
You'll become a skilled and adaptable Industrial Process Engineer, armed with solid technical knowledge from both your studies and practical experience. You'll be part of a team that creates manufacturing solutions for our customers, getting involved in defining and optimising manufacturing processes, conducting readiness reviews, driving innovation to cut costs, and ensuring everything runs smoothly and reliably. ⚙️
What You'll Master:
- Understand the professional conduct expected of an engineer.
- Tackle diverse tasks on exciting projects, grasping complex systems.
- Assess product maturity and identify risks.
- Design, set up, and refine manufacturing processes and tooling.
- Contribute to Health, Safety, and Environmental initiatives.
- Develop and optimise manufacturing documentation and workflows.
- Innovate to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
- Participate in crucial review boards, managing changes and failures.
- Implement testing and control plans for manufacturing equipment.
Your Apprenticeship Journey:
You'll study for a Level 6 Manufacturing Engineer qualification with Yeovil College. This 5-year program provides a strong foundation in mechanical, electrical, digital, materials, product design, and advanced manufacturing. You'll attend college part-time for the first four years while embedding your learning in the workplace, with year five focused on your final assessment. Upon completion, you'll earn a BEng in Engineering and a Level 6 Manufacturing Engineer Apprenticeship, rolling off into an Industrial Process Engineer role within our Underwater Systems business.
What You'll Need to Apply:
- Education:
- 2 A Levels (Grade C or above in Maths, and at least one other STEM subject).
- OR a 90+ Credit BTEC Diploma in Engineering (MM).
- GCSEs: Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above, including English Language and Mathematics.
- Note: This programme is for those who don't already hold a relevant degree.
Awesome Benefits:
- Competitive salary of £24,000 per year. 💸
- Performance-related pay increases.
- Generous holiday entitlement (201 hours/year + company day + bank holidays).
- Contributory company pension. 🔒
- Health Care Cash Plan. 🏥
- Hybrid/flexible working options.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Extensive learning and development support.
- Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives. ✨
- Life Cover.
- 80 hours of volunteering per year (first two years). 🤝
About Thales:
Thales is a global leader in innovation and technology. We champion equal opportunities and believe that diversity and inclusion are key to our success.
Your Application Journey:
1. Apply Online: Register your interest via our website. (You can apply for multiple roles later!)
2. Upload CV:
3. Check Emails: Look for an invitation to apply from recruiting@jobalerts.thalesgroup.com.
4. Complete Application: Follow the link to submit your full application for up to four roles.
5. Online Tests: Complete assessments to showcase your skills.
6. Virtual Assessment Centre: If successful, you'll attend a virtual assessment with group exercises and interviews.
7. Job Offer: Successful candidates will receive an offer from Thales!
Important Dates:
- Application Deadline: 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 17 February 2027. (Applications may close earlier due to high volume – apply ASAP!)
- Assessment Centres: February - May 2027
- Induction Week: Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027
Security Requirements:
Due to the nature of our work, all roles are subject to security checks. You must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to obtain UK Government security clearance (BPSS and SC). For SC clearance, you typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. Additionally, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme, requiring British citizenship from birth.
Ready to launch your engineering career? Click "Apply" now and don't miss out! 🚀
Key responsibilities
- Assessing Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of products to identify and minimise risk.
- Define, set up, prepare and optimise manufacturing processes and tooling.
- Contribute to Health, Safety and Environment processes.
- Define and optimise manufacturing documentation, tools and workflows for manufacturing and inspection.
- Contribute to technological innovation to reduce costs and workflows, whilst guaranteeing the feasibility and reproducibility of the process.