2026 Marine Engineer Apprentice – Level 3 Marine Engineer
Location: Turnchapel, United Kingdom
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Salary: £24,000 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Working Schedule: 37 hours a week (Monday – Thursday 8 hours a day, Friday 5 hours, 0800 to 1700 with a 1 hour lunch break)
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
As a Marine Engineer Apprentice, you will
* Work hands‑on with Thales UK vessels, supporting their operations and upkeep
* Carry out fault finding and troubleshooting tasks to ensure safety and reliability
* Perform both planned and reactive maintenance on cutting‑edge marine systems
* Collaborate closely with the Operations team and Skippers to maintain vessel serviceability and high standards
* Accurately report and document defects to aid continuous improvement
* Provide practical support for all trials conducted at the Turnchapel site
Apprentice Programme
For this apprenticeship you will step onto a Level 3 Marine Engineer programme at City of Plymouth College. The programme will be delivered over a 3.5 year period with an additional 3‑6 months for your End Point Assessment. In the first year you will attend college full‑time; in the second year on a day‑release basis; the third year will be work‑based with remote support from the college. At the end you will achieve a Level 3 qualification in Marine Engineering and roll off into a permanent role at our Turnchapel site.
Requirements
* 5 GCSEs grade 9‑4 (A‑C) including English, Maths and a Science subject
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 Centre
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 to Friday 11 September 2026.
Application Deadline
Applications will close at 11:59 pm on Thursday 12 February 2026. We will contact candidates by the end of February 2026 with details of next steps. Roles may close earlier if we receive a high number of applications.
Recruitment Process
For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, including hints and tips, or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team, a Graduate or an Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.
Security Clearance
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 to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements prior to starting with us. This role requires SC clearance; it would be advantageous if you already hold it. If not, you must achieve it before commencing employment.
Equal Opportunities
Thales is an equal opportunities employer. 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 may require additional evidence. 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.
Other Information
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 have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid‑to‑senior roles or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
Senior Details
Seniority level: Not Applicable
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Engineering and Information Technology
Industries: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, Defense and Space Manufacturing
#J-18808-Ljbffr