CAD Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship at AWE

Reading, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Jan, 26

Salary

16750.0

Posted On

13 Oct, 25

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

CAD Software, Mechanical Engineering, 3D Modelling, Technical Drawing, Design Communication, Problem-Solving, Team Collaboration, Safety Awareness, Material Selection, Tolerance Awareness, Communication Skills, Curiosity, Motivation, Attention to Detail, Precision, Digital Tools

Industry

Defense and Space Manufacturing

Description

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given. CAD Technician Apprentice (Level 3 - Advanced) About AWE: We’re a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies. Our work is critical. We’re delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that’s just part of the story. We support the UK government in a range of vital areas – from counter-terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world-class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security. At AWE, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique. Be extraordinary at AWE. About the apprenticeship: As a CAD Technician Apprentice, you’ll play a vital role in supporting our Mechanical Engineering Design team. Using Siemens NX CAD Software, you’ll create conceptual 3D models and fully engineered 2D drawings for manufacture, all to precise specifications and company standards. Your journey will begin at our Skills Academy, where you’ll spend your first year gaining hands-on experience in: Basic hand-fitting techniques Milling and turning Understanding how components are made and assembled Material selection and tolerance awareness This foundational training is essential to becoming a skilled CAD Technician. You’ll also attend a local college on day release to support your academic development. Once you’ve completed your workshop training, you’ll move into professional placements within our Design Offices. Here you’ll: Tackle real-world engineering challenges Collaborate with experienced professionals Develop problem-solving skills Learn about safety and compliance in engineering environments About You: We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals who are: Practically minded with a passion for engineering and technology Computer literate and eager to learn CAD software Strong team players with good communication skills Safety-conscious and able to follow instructions Motivated, curious, and ready to take on new challenges If you’re interested in Mechanical Engineering, 3D modelling, technical drawing, or design communication, we’d love to hear from you! This role may appeal to you if you enjoy Bringing ideas to life through design – You’ll be turning concepts into detailed technical drawings that help shape real-world projects. Working with precision and detail – If you have an eye for accuracy and enjoy solving spatial or technical challenges, this could be a great fit. Using technology creatively – You’ll be trained to use industry-standard CAD software (Siemens NX & AutoCAD) to produce 2D and 3D models, so an interest in digital tools and design is a plus. Collaborating with engineers and designers – You’ll be part of a team, contributing to projects across construction, manufacturing, or product development. Learning and growing in a hands-on environment – This apprenticeship offers structured training, mentorship, and the chance to gain a recognised qualification while working on real projects. Opportunities when you complete your apprenticeship When you have completed your apprenticeship, you could move into one of the following roles: Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Junior Electrical Design Engineer Junior Control & Instrumentation Design Engineer Junior Construction Design Engineer Entry Requirements: 5 GCSE’s at grade 4/C or above including Maths and English AND a 5/B in Science Applicants must be aged 17 or over as of 31st August 2026 due to security clearance requirements You must be a British National to apply for a role with us. If you currently hold a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering or similar, you should consider applying for a degree level apprenticeship. Apprenticeship Standard: Engineering Design Technician (ST0164) Training Provider: Basingstoke College of Technology. Duration: 42 months, plus 6 months End Point Assessment The Benefits: A starting salary of £16,750 yearly, increasing to £23,500 in Year 2 and annually throughout your apprenticeship — subject to meeting key milestones and performance expectations. Generous holiday entitlement of 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off. Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services Alongside these benefits you will get the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field whilst helping us to continue to deliver national nuclear security, threat reduction and counter-terrorism solutions. Location: Aldermaston/Reading area Start Date: Tuesday 1st September 2026 Annual leave will not be granted from 1st September until 2nd October 2026 due to mandatory inductions you are required to complete as part of your apprenticeship. Any leave approved after this point will depend on the training provider requirements for your apprenticeship and must be agreed in advance. Recruitment Process: This vacancy will close on 7th December 2025, but we review applications as they come in—so we strongly encourage you to apply early. We want you to shine in your application process which is designed to be fair and transparent, so we've kept it simple with a three-step process. Online application: Apply for one apprenticeship; take your time to explore the options and choose the one that best matches your interests and goals. Online test: If successful, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage. These include online testing against numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests. Don't be intimidated: practice assessments will be available so you will be fully equipped with the knowledge of what to expect. In person assessment: Those successful at testing will be invited to an in-person assessment centre. The Assessment Centre is scheduled for 6th February 2026. Please note that this date may be subject to change, but rest assured, we’ll keep all applicants informed throughout the process. These roles are governed by Health and Safety at Work Regulations and require all candidates to have an Occupational Health pre-employment medical held at AWE which follows the initial selection process. All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas. Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. We encourage diverse applicants and we're here to support you all the way. We encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments on your application. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR. Learn about how we handle your data. Contact us If you have questions during the application process, please reach out to the Early Careers Team at EarlyCareers@awe.co.uk Next steps: Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application. Important things you need to know: We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes. You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process. Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process. Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions. Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us. Before applying to any of our Apprentice roles, it is important that you know that you are eligible. If you need to check then please: Click here for Level 2 roles Click here for Level 3 roles Click here for Level 4 and 5 roles Click here for Level 6 Degree roles If you’re looking for a role with excitement, intrigue and something that really makes a difference then now is the time to join AWE. We are at the start of a once in a generation – possibly two generations – programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent. We will do this while continuing to deliver the Trident programme as well as managing ambitious state-of-the-art capital and construction projects – some of which have never been done before. We are recruiting right across the business: from technical roles in engineering, science, manufacturing and industrial work to business roles in areas such as IT, project management/ controls, commercial, human resources and facilities management. We also have our Evolve graduate programme, or you may be interested in an apprenticeship with our award-winning Skills Academy. What we do is vital to national nuclear security. Keeping our nation, everyone, our environment and everything around us safe and secure is a top priority for us. So, as you would expect, that brings with it a high level of safety and security that you will see across our sites and in how everyone who works here operates. We are always looking for high calibre people to join our team, so why not explore the opportunities we currently have on offer. Whatever stage of your career, AWE is an exciting and challenging environment to develop your skills and achieve your potential.

Responsibilities

As a CAD Technician Apprentice, you will support the Mechanical Engineering Design team by creating 3D models and 2D drawings using Siemens NX CAD Software. You will gain hands-on experience and tackle real-world engineering challenges while collaborating with experienced professionals.