RAF Weapon Technician - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

Royal Air Force

Lincoln, LN4 4SY

Closes on Saturday 30 August

Posted on 8 August 2024

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Summary

A unique opportunity to complete an advanced engineering apprenticeship as a Weapon Technician with an Ofsted outstanding training provider. You'll be working with some of the most advanced weapons and aircraft in the world and play a key part in the UK's defence. With over 100 places available across the year, Apply today!

Annual wage
£25,200 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The minimum pay in your first year is £25,200. On completion of technical training, at least 1 years' service and a workplace assessment, your pay will rise to £27,200, increasing incrementally year on year.

Training course
Engineering technician (level 3)
Hours
Shifts to be confirmed on assignment to your first station after training (TBC).

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

3 years

Positions available

130

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As an RAF Weapon Technician, you will be responsible for the weapons, explosives, and associated equipment used by the RAF including:

  • Ejection seat removal/fit/maintenance
  • Canopy/Pylon/Role equipment removal/fit
  • Smart bombs/Guided missiles/Weapon aiming systems/Gun ammunition and Decoy Flares
  • Explosive Safety/Storage of explosives

There is also plenty of variety; from quite early in your career, you could be arming aircraft with bombs, guided weapons, missiles, loading aircraft guns or working on an aircraft flight line, servicing aircraft and preparing them for flight.

You will be responsible for the servicing, maintenance and repair of ejection seats, aircraft gun systems and missile launchers.

You will have other responsibilities too such as the maintenance, care and issue of the weapons used by your station, including rifles, pistols and machine guns, as well as heavier weapons.

You could be responsible for the safe storage and control of aircraft weapons and flares and also the building and the fitment of smart weapons and flares to the aircraft.

Like most people in the RAF, you could move jobs every few years as part of your service career management and have the opportunity to diversify and experience a wide range of jobs and equipment.

You will be able to set preferences for the location and type of employment you would like to undertake and there is also the opportunity to undertake roles outside of your specialisation.

Within your first few years, you will get the opportunity to deploy overseas in support of the RAF’s mission.

Where you’ll work

Raf Coningsby

Lincoln

LN4 4SY

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Your training course

Engineering technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Your training plan

  • Whilst completing your Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, you will also gain a Level 3 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance (Military) delivered entirely in training and a Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance, the portfolio element completed after training in the workplace
  • On successful completion of the application and selection process, your apprenticeship will start with a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Course at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you will also learn about the RAF lifestyle
  • The next step is a specialist training course at the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering Cosford, near Wolverhampton, which lasts about 12 months. This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of your role as an RAF Armament Specialist, including the awareness of explosive safety requirements and the maintenance and repair skills of aircraft weapon systems, weapon launching systems and aircraft escape systems
  • You could also have opportunities for management and leadership training. The qualifications and experience you will gain in your RAF career can support accreditation and membership in industry recognised professional bodies

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • an approved Science/Technology-based subject (grade C/4 or above)
  • English Language (grade C/4 or above)
  • Mathematics (grade C/4 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

It is a job with a great deal of responsibility as the equipment you handle is often extremely dangerous and safety is always crucial. The role may require deployments overseas, working on flight lines or maintaining weapons in bays. The role is varied and, after training, you could be stationed across the UK and beyond.

About this company

The Royal Air Force work with our UK and international partners to watch the skies, respond to threats, prevent conflict, and provide assistance in an uncertain world. We provide all personnel with a varied range of training and activities to make sure you're ready for anything. A career in the Royal Air Force will provide you with a whole host of possibilities. You will receive world class training, allowing you to learn and develop throughout your career. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore the closing and start dates.

https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the Royal Air Force
  • Promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is dependent on successful completion of the Engineering Technician apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection
  • As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ROYAL AIR FORCE

0345 6055555

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000270111.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 30 August

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

You'll be directed through to the RAF Recruitment Website where more detail on the role is available. We have positions available for this role throughout the year and the process can take a few months. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.