2026 Engineering (Component) Apprentice - Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Degree Apprenticeship
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Salary: £24,000 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Crawley
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? Thales offers you the flexibility to do what’s important to you, with part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, or flexible start and finish times.
Role Overview
This role will develop your engineering skills to become a confident, positive and flexible Component Engineering Apprentice with strong technical knowledge gained from on‑the‑job training and university studies. You will support the team in undertaking service‑engineering activities to deadlines and within budget.
Key Skills & Experience to be Developed
* Knowledge of engineering subjects: electronic, mechanical and software engineering.
* Familiarity with key techniques and technologies used in the design and implementation of the product.
* Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
* Understanding of the different disciplines within the Services function.
* Proficiency with Services tooling and software packages.
* Knowledge of current industry standards for all service disciplines.
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 are fully covered.
Apprentice Programme
Through our degree apprenticeship you will understand engineering from the ground up, working with one of the biggest and best names in the industry. As a Component Engineering Apprentice you will be enrolled on the Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Programme at Warwick University, following the Electrical/Electronic Technical Support Engineer pathway. Delivered via a blended learning model, this programme combines on‑campus delivery with virtual coaching and online resources. The first two years provide a broad engineering skill set including mechanical, electrical, electronic, materials and design, plus computational. In Years 3 and 4 you will move to your specialist pathway. For the 4‑year programme you will combine university studies with practical application, working within our Services function in Crawley.
Requirements
* 112 UCAS tariff points at A Level including a grade B in Maths and at least one relevant STEM subject (Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Electronics).
* 5 GCSEs grade 9‑4 (A‑C) including English, Maths and a Science subject.
Note: Applicants who already hold a relevant degree will not be eligible.
Benefits
* 201 hours annual leave (plus company day and bank holidays).
* Company pension.
* Health Care Cash Plan.
* Life insurance.
* Discount Portal.
* Performance‑related pay uplifts.
* 80 hours volunteering in the first two years.
Assessment & Induction
Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and May 2026. Induction week for all graduates and apprentices takes place from Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026.
Closing Date
Applications close at 11:59 pm on Thursday 12 February 2026. Roles may close earlier if we receive a high number of applications. Please apply as soon as possible.
Recruitment Process
For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, contact Thales Future Talent – Connect. 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). SC clearance is required before commencing employment.
Equal Opportunities
Thales is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process.
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