2025 Systems Engineering Apprentice - Crawley – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

The role will develop your engineering skills to become a confident, positive and flexible engineer with well-honed technical knowledge gained from the academic commitments, supporting the team to deliver systems and equipment solutions to deadlines and within budget.

Annual wage

£22,500 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Pension – Thales match, plus 1%, with a maximum contribution of 7% • Health Insurance – 50% of salary for five years • Performance-related pay uplifts

Training course

Product design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)

Hours

Flexible Working, Monday - Friday, 37 hours per week, Manager to confirm exact hours

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

4 years

Positions available

2

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 a Systems Engineering Apprentice you will develop the key skills and experience in the following:

Develop an understanding of the required behaviours and codes of practice of a professional engineer
Understanding complex systems by working on different roles and tasks on on-going projects
Familiarity with the Systems Engineering Lifecycle and activities
Familiarity with System Engineering tools and methods for requirements capture, requirements management and system design
An understanding of systems test activities including Integration, Validation, Verification & Qualification (IVVQ) and the associated processes and tools
A methodical and structured approach to problem investigation

Where you’ll work

Manor Royal

Crawley

RH10 9HA

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

THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

Your training course

Product design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes or operational designs or specifications for products, systems or components to solve engineering challenges such as compliance, technology, technical or physical challenges.
Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions or actions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) or Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA).
Collate and use a range of data sources and supporting documentation to support projects.
Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, project plans, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data or developmental or test evidence.
Manage assigned projects or programmes of work to meet the required specification, taking into account factors such as resource requirements, safety, quality, cost and performance or sustainability criteria. Apply processes for project or programme management including outcomes such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity.
Identify resources, such as digital tools or technologies, human, equipment, materials or data, to complete design and development projects or programmes of work.
Create and manage a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
Demonstrate leadership when undertaking product design, development, modification or update engineering activities.
Identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the design or development process, which may impact the quality and reliability of the product, system or component.
Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured and checked for safe operation before use.
Evaluate engineering designs, development or modification options.
Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities in the operation and performance of the product, system or component.
Complete project documentation checks throughout the activity and report non-conformances.
Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes or operational designs or specifications for products, systems or components to solve engineering challenges such as compliance, technology, technical or physical challenges.
Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions or actions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) or Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA).
Collate and use a range of data sources and supporting documentation to support projects.
Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, project plans, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data or developmental or test evidence.
Manage assigned projects or programmes of work to meet the required specification, taking into account factors such as resource requirements, safety, quality, cost and performance or sustainability criteria. Apply processes for project or programme management including outcomes such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity.
Identify resources, such as digital tools or technologies, human, equipment, materials or data, to complete design and development projects or programmes of work.
Create and manage a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
Demonstrate leadership when undertaking product design, development, modification or update engineering activities.
Identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the design or development process, which may impact the quality and reliability of the product, system or component.
Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured and checked for safe operation before use.
Evaluate engineering designs, development or modification options.
Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities in the operation and performance of the product, system or component.
Complete project documentation checks throughout the activity and report non-conformances.

Your training plan

As a Systems Engineering Apprentice you will be enrolled onto the Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Programme at Warwick University, following the Product Design and Development Standard. Delivered via a blended learning model, this programme combines the best of both with on campus delivery (6 block weeks per year) plus virtual coaching and online resources.

The first two years on programme will be common across all pathways and will provide a broad engineering skill set including mechanical, electrical, electronic, materials and design, plus computational.

In Year 3 and Year 4 learners will move to their specialist pathway. For the duration of this 4 year programme you will combine university studies with practical application, working within our Systems function in Crawley.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

5 GCSEs incl. Maths & English (grade A*-C or 9-4)
Maths and a further STEM subject (grade BB Minimum of 112 UCAS points)

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
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative

Other requirements

Candidates will need a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points at A Level including a grade B in Maths and at least 1 further STEM subject (Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Electronics) or an equivalent e.g. BTEC DMM. They will also require 5 GCSEs grade A-C (9-4) including English and Maths.

About this company

Together, we create the ingenious technological systems and innovations that impact and improve people's lives every single day. Even if you haven't heard the name Thales before, you've definitely benefited from our inventiveness. We reinvest 20% of our sales in Research & Development in the UK. Together we supply invention across 4 core areas: Aerospace, Space, Defence and Security, Digital Identity and Security.

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/uk-career (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays) • 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years) • Discount Portal • Health Care Cash Plan

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

You will become a system engineer within the system function.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THALES UK LIMITED

Thales Early Careers Team

suppearlycar@uk.thalesgroup.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000283208.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 16 February

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.

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2025 Systems Engineering Apprentice - Crawley

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