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.
2026 Software Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions
Start Date: 7 September 2026
Salary : £24,000 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? Do you want to be part of an Apprenticeship Programme that will develop and challenge you? If so, read on to see what Thales has on offer…
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
Join us as a Software Apprentice where you'll have the opportunity to enhance your skills in implementing and integrating the sonar processing and display chains that power the world's leading sonar systems. You will collaborate with a diverse team of experts to create complex systems for our customers. This role promises an exciting journey into the world of sonar technology!
As a Software Apprentice, you will experience and develop crucial skills in the following areas:
* Problem-solving methods and approaches
* Effective communication skills in both writing reports and giving presentations
* Knowledge and application of the key digital technologies such as data science or AI/ML
* Signal processing
* Effective algorithm implementations, and importance of verification and validation
* HMI Development and testing
* An understanding of foundational concepts in mathematics and physics that apply to underwater acoustic systems
Apprentice Programme
You will enrol onto the Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship at Yeovil College, following the Software Engineer specialism pathway. Over the 4 year programme duration, you will attend college on a day release basis to complete your academic studies. For the rest of the time you will be working in our Underwater Systems Business applying your learning to real-life projects.
By the end of the apprenticeship you will have achieved a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions, plus the Level 6 apprenticeship qualification.
Requirements:
* 112 UCAS points to include A Level grade B in Maths and a further STEM subject (any Engineering, IT, Computing, Web and Telecoms)
* 5 GCSEs grade 4 (C) or above including English and Maths
Benefits
* 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
* Easy Apply (EA)