Engineering & Manufacturing Support Apprentice

SMC is looking for motivated individuals with a genuine passion for engineering and a focus on customer satisfaction. You’ll join our European Technical Centre (ETC), a key hub supporting customers across Europe with product design and technical expertise across a wide range of industries.

Requirements

• Motivated and reliable individual with a strong interest in engineering and how things work.
• Good problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn both practical and theoretical concepts.
• Basic understanding of maths and science.
• Ability to follow instructions and work safely.
• Team player who can also take initiative.
• Ability to communicate clearly and stay organised.
• Enthusiasm, commitment, and a positive attitude towards developing skills.
• Good timekeeping.
• GCSE in Maths (grade 9-5).
• GCSE in English (grade 9-4).
• Basic understanding of maths and science.
• Ability to follow instructions and work safely.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside experienced engineers to deliver high-quality, responsive technical support.
• Collaborate with SMC teams across Europe, Engineering Headquarters in Japan, and manufacturing sites in the UK, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
• Ensure designs follow best practice and are ready for efficient production.
• Learn how products are designed, including choosing materials, components, and finishes.
• Build and modify equipment using drawings and step-by-step instructions.
• Understand how pneumatic and electrical systems work and how to design them.
• Test products to ensure they perform well and last over time.
• Use and look after workshop tools and equipment.
• Learn about important safety and industry regulations and how to follow them.
• Support customers by answering questions and helping solve problems.
• Develop confidence in communicating with both technical and non-technical people.
• Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Comply with engineering standards and regulations (e.g., British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO), European Norm (EN)).
• Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs (e.g., read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals).
• Apply scientific, technical, or engineering principles.
• Apply problem-solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
• Organise, plan, and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
• Identify, organise, and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security, and environmental impact.
• Produce job-specific technical outputs (e.g., engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals, and specifications).
• Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders (e.g., checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents).
• Record information - paper-based or electronic (e.g., energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists).
• Follow standard operating procedures.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions (e.g., safe instructions for use of products, processes, and machinery).
• Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices (e.g., conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections, or tests).
• Apply continuous improvement techniques.
• Apply team-working principles.
• Communicate in writing with others (e.g., stakeholders, colleagues, and managers).
• Communicate with others verbally (e.g., colleagues and stakeholders).
• Use information and digital technology, complying with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
• Carry out and record learning and development activities.
• Apply equity, diversity, and inclusion procedures.