2025 Systems Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Applied Professional Engineer

at  Thales

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom
Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

2025 SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPRENTICE - LEVEL 6 APPLIED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP

Start Date: 01 September 2025
Salary: £22,500 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Templecombe
Working Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
Are you passionate about engineering? Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through a degree, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry-leading organisation? If so, read on to see what Thales has on offer…

AS A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPRENTICE YOU WILL DEVELOP THE KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE IN THE FOLLOWING:

• Develop an understanding of the required behaviours and codes of practice of a professional engineer
• Understanding complex systems by working on different roles and tasks on on-going projects
• Familiarity with the Systems Engineering Lifecycle and activities
• Familiarity with System Engineering tools and methods for requirements capture, requirements management and system design
• An understanding of systems test activities including Integration, Validation, Verification & Qualification (IVVQ) and the associated processes and tools
• A methodical and structured approach to problem investigation

REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates will need a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points at A Level including a grade B in Maths and at least 1 further STEM subject (Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Electronics).
You will also require 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths.
Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the 4 year programme.
Please note that applicants who already hold a relevant degree will not be eligible for this programme.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FULL SC, YOU GENERALLY NEED TO HAVE RESIDED IN THE UK FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS’ RESIDENCE IN THE UK OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS MAY BE ACCEPTED, WITH ADDITIONAL OVERSEAS CHECKS. AS PART OF THE VETTING PROCESS YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF YOUR IDENTITY, ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE UK, TIME SPENT ABROAD OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, AS WELL AS EMPLOYMENT AND/OR EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
Great journeys start here, apply now

WHAT THE ROLE HAS TO OFFER:

• Earn while you learn
• Job specific training experience
• Recognised qualifications
• Permanent role from day one
  The role will develop your engineering skills to become a confident, positive and flexible systems engineer with well-honed technical knowledge gained from both the academic commitments and on the job training. You will be part of a team that supports systems and equipment solutions that are currently in service with our customer. This will provide many opportunities to experience the various aspects of systems engineering such as, systems requirements and design work, project reviews, system test and possibly site and platform visits for surveys, installations or trials. There will also be opportunities to experience other parts of the business to further expand your knowledge on how each sector operates together to deliver high quality products on tight deadlines.