Level 6 Academy Engineer Degree Apprenticeship
Thales · Northern Ireland · BT6 9HB
About the role
Turn your curiosity into a career! 🚀 Are you passionate about engineering, eager to learn, and ready for an apprenticeship that mixes awesome academic study with real-world experience? Then we want to hear from you! Our Mechatronics apprenticeship is your chance to explore different engineering vibes before picking your speciality. 💡
What's in it for you? ✨
- Get Paid While You Learn: Earn a salary from day one! 💰
- Real-World Skills: Dive into hands-on engineering projects. 🔧
- Top-Notch Training: Get the job-specific skills you need to succeed. 📚
- Get Qualified: Achieve a recognised engineering qualification. 🎓
- Tuition Covered: We've got your training provider fees sorted. ✅
- Secure Your Future: Start in a permanent role from the get-go. 🌟
About the Gig 🧑💻
As an Engineering Apprentice, you'll be mastering mechatronic engineering skills, growing into a confident and flexible engineer. You’ll build a solid technical foundation and tackle challenging engineering problems alongside a supportive team. Mechatronics is the ultimate combo of mechanical, electronics, and software engineering – you’ll learn how to design, create solutions, and make tech work like magic! ✨ You'll help deliver projects on time, to spec, and within budget, learning how to balance performance, cost, and manufacturability while collaborating across different parts of the business.
How You'll Grow 🌱
- Build Practical Skills: Go beyond theory and learn how designs come to life for real production.
- Boost Problem-Solving: Work with guidance, but learn to break down challenges and find your own solutions. 💪
- Understand Decision-Making: See how cost, quality, and performance play a role in design. ⚖️
- Learn Through Teamwork: Collaborate with diverse teams and build professional communication skills. 🤝
What You'll Learn 🧠
- How Our Business Rocks: Understand the ins and outs of Engineering, including software, hardware, and systems.
- Engineering & Beyond: Get exposed to other business functions to see the bigger picture and how decisions are made. 🌐
- Learn from the Best: Work with key people, seasoned experts, and leadership.
- Build Your Network: Join a vibrant community of future talent – apprentices, grads, and interns! 🧑🤝🧑
- Grow Through Rotation: Follow a designed pathway with internal rotations to gain diverse experience.
The Apprenticeship Journey 🚀
You'll be working towards a Level 6 Higher Level Apprenticeship, culminating in a BEng Mechatronic Engineering degree with Ulster University (Belfast campus). This is a 4-year fast track!
- Year 1: Attend university lectures and tutorials 4 days a week, do Thales engineering project work remotely, and spend 1 day a week onsite building your knowledge. 🏫
- Year 2 onwards: University 1 day a week, and 4 days working in engineering, applying your academic learning in a real-life setting. 🏢
Entry Requirements 📝
- A Levels: 112 UCAS points (A Level BBC) including a Grade B in a STEM Subject (Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Technology & Design, Engineering, Electronics, Double Award Science/Applied Science).
- Or BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM, including a merit in Engineering Principles and Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems. (Other Level 3 qualifications also considered as per Ulster University requirements).
- GCSEs: 5 GCSEs 9-4 (A-C), including Maths and English.
Important Notes:
- You must not already hold a relevant degree. 🚫
- This opportunity is based in Belfast and open to all Northern Ireland residents.
- You need the Right to Work in the UK for the entire program duration. 🇬🇧
Awesome Perks! 🎉
- Competitive Salary: £24,000 per annum. 💸
- Performance Bonuses: Potential for uplifts. 📈
- Generous Holiday: 201 hours a year plus company day and bank holidays. 🏖️
- Company Pension: Contributory scheme. 🏦
- Health Care Cash Plan. 🩺
- Flexible Working Options. 🗓️
- Employee Assistance Programme. 🤗
- Learning & Development Support. 💡
- Employee Discounts & Wellbeing. 😊
- Life Cover. 🛡️
- Volunteer Hours: 80 hours per year (first two years). 💖
Ready to Apply? 🔥
1. Apply Online: Register your interest.
2. Upload CV: Show us what you've got.
3. Check Emails: For your invitation to complete the full application.
4. Complete Application: Follow the link to apply for your primary role and up to 3 others.
5. Online Tests: Assessments to check your suitability. 💯
6. Virtual Assessment Centre: Group exercises and interviews for shortlisted candidates. 🎬
7. Job Offer: Successful candidates will receive an offer from Thales! 🥳
- Connect with Us: Visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr for tips and to connect with our team.
- Assessment Centres: February - May 2027.
- Induction Week: Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.
- Application Closing Date: 11:59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027. APPLY EARLY! Roles can close sooner if we receive a high volume of applications. ⏳
Security Check: Due to the nature of our work, all roles require security checks. You must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to pass UK Government security checks (BPSS and SC clearance). Typically, you'll need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years for SC clearance.
About Thales: We're an equal opportunities employer, and diversity and inclusion are key to our success. 🌍
How to Apply: Hit the 'apply' button to get started and find out more. Remember, apply early to avoid disappointment!
Key responsibilities
- Help the team deliver solutions to meet deadlines, quality expectations, and budget.
- Learn and build real mechatronic engineering skills.
- Work on challenging engineering problems as part of a supportive team.
- Develop understanding of design principles and solution creation.
- Collaborate with different parts of the business and key stakeholders.