Skills and qualities that help

• A strong interest in electronics and how systems work
• Ability to follow technical instructions and procedures
• Curiosity and persistence when debugging
• Clear communication and attention to detail (especially for test data and documentation)
• Basic competence with tools (e.g., soldering/assembly, spreadsheets/measurement logs) is beneficial

Degree Apprenticeship Programme

You will study towards a Level 6 BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with Exeter University.

In your first year you will be given a broad theoretical and practical knowledge across all core engineering disciplines, before progressing onto increasingly advanced topics later in the course.

Years one and two provide core fundamental knowledge of engineering principles, as well as applying mathematics to engineering problems. Years three and four are spent applying your knowledge to engineering problems.

You will complete a Technical Report and Presentation in the final year: an opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to devise an engineering solution at a professional level in an area of engineering study that aligns to your role at Thales.

By the end of the programme, you will have achieved a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering as well as a Level 6 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree Apprenticeship.

Programme structure:

Throughout the four-year programme, you will combine university study with practical workplace experience, developing both academic knowledge and professional engineering skills.

Lectures and workshops are delivered through a series of 2-week blocks spaced throughout your degree apprenticeship

Alongside campus taught lecturers, you will have access to digital resources and discipline experts to support your studies.

Entry Requirements

To apply, you will need:

A Levels

• Three A Levels at ABB, including a Grade B in Maths and a Science subject.

Or BTEC Extended Diploma (DDM)

• Applicants studying one of the following BTEC Extended Diplomas will be considered: Applied Science; Aeronautical Engineering; Building Services; Engineering Construction and the Built Environment; Civil Engineering; Operations and Maintenance Engineering; Computer Engineering; Electrical/Electronic Engineering; Engineering; Manufacturing Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Environmental Sustainability.

Or T Level (Distinction)

• Required Subjects: Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering; Manufacturing; Processing and Control; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering: Manufacturing only, Surveying and Planning for Construction.

GCSEs

• Minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4-9 (A-C)
• Must include:
  • English
  • Maths

Please note that applicants who already hold a relevant degree will not be eligible for this programme.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Contributory Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Hybrid/flexible working options
• Employee assistance programme
• Learning and development support
• Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
• Life Cover
• 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)

Thales Apprentice Recruitment Process

1. Apply Online - submit your application online to register your interest. You only need to register for one role as you will have the opportunity to apply for additional roles at the full application stage.
2. Upload Your CV
3. Check your emails for the invitation to apply – this will come from recruiting@jobalerts.thalesgroup.com
4. Complete Your Application – follow the link provided in the email to complete your application. You can apply for one primary role and up to 3 additional roles.

1. Complete Online Tests - undertake the online assessments designed to evaluate your suitability for the role.

2. Virtual Assessment Centre - candidates who progress from the online assessment stage will attend a virtual assessment centre, which will include group exercises, and competency-based interviews.

3. Job Offer – successful candidates who perform well throughout the recruitment process will receive a job offer from Thales.

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.

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2027. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2027 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.

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.

To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history.

In addition, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme and is therefore subject to government-mandated nationality restrictions. To satisfy the security clearance requirements for access to highly sensitive information, applicants must have been British citizens from birth and must not hold any other nationality. This requirement is determined by the UK Government and is a condition of programme access rather than an employment preference.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Thales is an equal opportunities employer