2026 Software Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship
Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in‑flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircraft. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. Together, each member of our aerospace team makes a difference. 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 Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well‑being matters to us, so we offer 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.
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)
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
Our exciting Software Engineering Apprentice role will develop your software skills to become a confident, positive and versatile engineer with well‑honed technical knowledge. You will support the team to deliver real‑world software solutions to deadlines and within budget, with opportunities to get involved across the entire development lifecycle.
Key Skills & Experience Developed
* Programming skills in industry standard languages such as C++ and Java
* Experience working in a multi‑disciplined agile environment alongside experienced engineers
* Familiarity with business management tools for managing requirements and formal documentation
* New tools and infrastructure used for the development engineering environment
* Development of secure, quality software solutions that adhere to timescale and budget
* Domain specific knowledge and application of mathematics skills to model and develop real‑world solutions across industries, such as aerospace and underwater systems, and software‑defined radio and electronic counter‑measure systems (depending on which business area you are aligned to)
* Opportunity to develop creative and bespoke software solutions
* Organisational skills with well‑rounded communication and relationship building abilities
* Digital Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics
Apprentice Programme
You will enrol onto the Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship at Warwick University, following the Software Engineering pathway. For the duration of this 4‑year programme you will combine university studies with practical application, working within our software function in Crawley. This programme is delivered via a block release delivery model, which includes a blend of on‑campus delivery and remote learning. For the rest of the time you will be working in the business for 4 days per week and will be given 1 day per week to focus on your apprenticeship studies. At the end of the apprenticeship you will be working as a software engineer within one of the Thales UK businesses. Your final qualification will be a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions, plus the Level 6 degree apprenticeship qualification.
Requirements
* 112 UCAS tariff points at A Level (grades BBC) including grade C or above in Maths and at least 1 other relevant STEM subject (Engineering, IT, Computing, Web & Telecoms, Physics, Electronics)
* 5 GCSEs grade 9‑4 (A‑C) including English and Maths
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)
Additional Information
Please note, 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 – Friday 11 September 2026.
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all of our roles are subject to security restrictions. 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 currently held, however if not currently held it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and/or educational history.
Closing date
Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026. We will be in contact by the end of February 2026 with details of next steps. PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
Equal Opportunities
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. 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 if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid‑to‑senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
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