2026 Systems Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Degree Apprenticeship
Apply for the 2026 Systems Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Degree Apprenticeship role at Portal Londrinatur. Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission.
Thales UK researches, develops, and supplies technology and services that impact millions of lives each day. We innovate across aerospace, defence, security, and space. Your health and well‑being matters; we offer flexible working options such as part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, and flexible start and finish times.
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Salary: £24,000
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Cheadle
Working Schedule: Monday‑Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday‑Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
What The Role Has To Offer
* Earn while you learn
* Job specific training experience
* Recognised qualifications
* Permanent role from day one
* Tuition fees for university or approved training providers fully covered
The role will develop your engineering skills to become a confident, positive and flexible engineer, with well‑honed technical knowledge gained from the academic commitments. You will support the team to deliver systems and equipment solutions to deadlines and within budget, including participating in systems requirements and design work, project reviews, system test and possibly site and platform visits for surveys, installations or trials.
Key Skills and Experience
* Develop an understanding of the required behaviours and codes of practice of a professional engineer
* Understand complex systems by working on different roles and tasks on ongoing projects
* Familiarity with the Systems Engineering Lifecycle and activity
* Familiarity with System Engineering tools and methods for requirements capture, requirements management and system design
* Understand systems test activities including Integration, Validation, Verification & Qualification (IVVQ) and associated processes and tools
* Apply a methodical and structured approach to problem investigation
Apprenticeship Programme
Enrolled onto the Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Programme at Warwick University, following the Product Design and Development pathway. Delivered via blended learning: on‑campus delivery plus virtual coaching and online resources. The first two years build a broad engineering skill set; Years 3‑4 specialise on your chosen pathway. During the 4‑year programme you will combine university studies with practical application in our Systems function in Cheadle.
Requirements
* 112 UCAS tariff points at A Level including a grade B in Maths and at least one further STEM subject (Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Electronics)
* 5 GCSEs grade 9‑4 (A‑C) including English and Maths
Applicants who already hold a relevant degree are not eligible.
Benefits
* 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
* Company Pension
* Health Care Cash Plan
* Life Insurance
* Discount Portal
* Performance‑related pay uplifts
* 80 hours volunteering (first two years)
Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February‑May 2026.
Induction week for all graduates and apprentices will take place from Monday 7 September 2026 to Friday 11 September 2026.
Closing date: 11:59 pm Thursday 12 February 2026. Applications may close earlier if we receive a high number of applications.
All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through government security clearance at BPSS Level and obtain full Security Clearance (SC). The role requires a sole British National from birth and maintaining SC clearance.
Thales is an equal‑opportunity employer. We provide a barrier‑free recruitment process and reasonable adjustments for candidates with neuro‑diversity or long‑term conditions.
Great journeys start here, apply now!
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