Job Description
WE ARE CDE.
HERE TO CREATE OUR BEST WORLD, A TON AT A TIME.
Sand is a finite resource, and it’s running out. Today, population growth and the pace of progress means the world is devouring sand like never before – 50 billion tonnes a year globally. This demand is unsustainable. Together with our customers we have already diverted over 100 million tonnes of waste material from landfill and put it back into the materials market for use in construction; protecting sand & aggregates in areas where natural material reserves are in decline and enabling production to happen closer to markets. We are minimising environmental impact and laying the foundations for the circular economy.
At CDE we work across the natural processing and waste recycling sectors, in five regions, to pioneer industry-leading, world-changing engineering solutions. Our headquarters are in Northern Ireland, and we have offices in the USA, Australia, Austria, and Brazil. For over 30 years we have relentlessly innovated and co-created wet processing solutions – completing over 2,000 global projects – and we’re only getting started. Our purpose is to create our best world, a ton at a time; empowering our customers to transform their materials into valuable resources for the betterment of people, planet, and their bottom lines.
Discover more about life at CDE
About The Role
Job Purpose
The Higher-Level Manufacturing Engineering Apprentice will undertake an advanced apprenticeship programme in manufacturing engineering, combining academic study with practical, hands‑on experience within CDE’s Manufacturing Engineering function. The purpose of this role is to develop higher‑level technical capability in process improvement, manufacturing systems, engineering problem‑solving, and operational excellence.
The apprentice will support the Manufacturing Engineering team by contributing to engineering projects, assisting with process optimisation, maintaining 6S standards, and applying engineering principles to improve quality, efficiency, and production workflow. The programme is designed to build capability toward progression into roles such as Manufacturing Engineer or Junior Engineer, aligning with CDE’s long‑term talent strategy and Higher-Level Apprenticeship pathways.
Please note, this job description is not exhaustive as other duties may be required to fulfil the requirements of the role.
Skills Needed
People
About The Company
WE ARE CDE. ENGINEERED FOR YOU We empower our customers to transform waste into valuable resources through innovative co-creation, laying the foundations for the circular economy. We help our customers maximise their natural resources in the most sustainable way possible – with greater efficiency and less waste than ever before. Our unparalleled speed and scale are down to our proximity to our customers and our deep understanding of their challenges. Our track record of proven solutions consistently meets our customers’ needs precisely, operating in challenging environments from the Arctic to the Equator. Wet processing is our sole focus –our experience and expertise is unmatched in this field. Every day, in everything we do, we strive to do it right. We want to be the best at what we do and deliver the maximum benefit for our customers. We pull together, as a team, in pursuit of this common cause. Our “Customer for Life” mentality fortifies each of our projects, with CDE engineers delivering continuous, limitless support.
Company Culture
We recognise that it is our people that have established CDE as market leader in developing solutions for the wet processing industry both within natural materials processing and waste recycling sectors. OUR PURPOSE IS TO CREATE OUR BEST WORLD, A TON AT A TIME. To do that, we must continue to build our global team by adding the most ambitious, driven and talented people. We will challenge you, elevate you and broaden your horizons. We will help you to be the best you can be both personally and professionally. We are renowned for our energy and can do attitude…. and at times seemingly delivering the impossible. We also know that all the will in the world won’t take us anywhere unless we work together. And we like to have fun together - life’s too short and we spend most of it at work. If we lose the power to laugh, we lose the power to think. We will continue to add the most dynamic, ambitious and talented individuals to the CDE team.
Desired Criteria
* Previous practical or technical experience (school projects, part-time work, engineering clubs, etc.).
* Basic understanding of mechanical principles or tools.
Required Criteria
* Meets entry requirements for the chosen Higher Level Apprenticeship programme.
* Applicants must satisfy the general entry requirements for the course provider, which include passes in 4 different subjects, including a grade C/4 or above in GCSE Maths and English
* Possess and display a keen interest in engineering.
* Highly motivated with a strong desire to learn and progress.
* Good communication and teamwork skills.
* Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
* Ability to follow instructions and work safely at all times.
* Attentive to detail
* Dependable and reliable
* Enthusiastic, energetic self-starter able to work on own initiative
* Clearance to work in UK
Closing DateFriday 24th April, 2026