Space Systems Engineering Degree Apprenticeship

Summary

If you’re excited by space technology, our 4-year apprenticeship will give you a stellar start to your career. You’ll earn while you learn, with your salary increasing each year as you work towards a BEng in Space Systems Engineering. This is your launchpad into one of the world’s highest growth, high-tech industries.

Annual wage

£25,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1: £25,000 Year 2: £26,500 Year 3: £28,000 Year 4: £29,500

Training course

Space systems engineer (level 6)

Hours

Monday - Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

35 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

4 years

Positions available

4

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

During your apprenticeship, you’ll be embedded in Babcock's Skynet Service Delivery Wrap (SDW) program. The Skynet system provides essential capabilities to UK and NATO armed forces, ensuring that service personnel can communicate anytime, in any environment, anywhere on Earth. This means you won’t just be gaining specialised engineering skills; you’ll also be supporting projects that are vital to protecting the UK.

You will be working 4 days per week at our locations in Corsham and Bordon, where our teams help to maintain and modernise the UK’s sovereign space communications capabilities. Where required, we will fund your accommodation away from your home base.

You will have the opportunity to rotate through the various Skynet SDW Engineering teams.

You’ll learn what each team does and assist in tasks of increasing complexity as your apprenticeship progresses. Few other apprenticeships can offer such interesting and important responsibilities.

Typical tasks include:

Visiting dockyards to upgrade communications equipment on a Royal Navy warship.
Designing subsystems to modernise technologies at satellite ground stations.
Undertaking testing on cutting edge satellite devices in preparation for their use on the Skynet network.
Redesigning Skynet systems to allow the integration of newly launched spacecraft.

Where you’ll work

Bordon, Hampshire

GU35 0JE

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

UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

Your training course

Space systems engineer (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Identify and implement technical engineering solutions. For example, by using trade studies.
Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders: verbal and written.
Present information. For example, presenting project progress and key performance information (KPI's) such as cost, quality, time, risk and opportunities, contributing to technical publications, conveying information to technical and non-technical audiences.
Review and interpret customer requirements for the function and performance of their spacecraft or subsystem.
Produce space engineering designs, specifications and drawings. For example, for tender and manufacturing stages.
Contribute to the preparation of technical proposals. For example, by providing the lead engineer with technical input.
Contribute to technical reviews with stakeholders. For example, explaining proposed solutions to the customer.
Perform design and mechanical-structural, thermal and dynamic-vibration analysis, for deployable structures.
Calculate and model the performance of electronic, mechanical and thermal subsystems using approved industry techniques. For example, communications, power, data handling and thermal control.
Use scientific and engineering data. For example, to support decision making during design, build and operations phases of a mission or project.
Identify and apply test standards and procedures. For example, identify and apply test standards for a specific project or mission.
Prepare and apply technical documentation. For example, schedules, test plans, test reports, quality reports, and the digital tools used for their preparation.
Research technical solutions to problems. For example, use peer-reviewed literature and technical publications to research technical solutions with awareness of patent rules.
Use information technology including digital tools for presentation of data, digital communication, collaboration, design and analysis.
Identify and comply with legal and statutory requirements. For example, health and safety, Environmental protection, sustainability, space certification requirements and data protection.
Work with and lead others including, negotiation, conflict management, mentoring and developing others; taking account of diversity, equality and inclusivity.
Mission Analysis techniques using numerical analysis and simulation tools such as AGI-Systems Toolkit or NASA-GMAT.
Identify and implement technical engineering solutions. For example, by using trade studies.
Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders: verbal and written.
Present information. For example, presenting project progress and key performance information (KPI's) such as cost, quality, time, risk and opportunities, contributing to technical publications, conveying information to technical and non-technical audiences.
Review and interpret customer requirements for the function and performance of their spacecraft or subsystem.
Produce space engineering designs, specifications and drawings. For example, for tender and manufacturing stages.
Contribute to the preparation of technical proposals. For example, by providing the lead engineer with technical input.
Contribute to technical reviews with stakeholders. For example, explaining proposed solutions to the customer.
Perform design and mechanical-structural, thermal and dynamic-vibration analysis, for deployable structures.
Calculate and model the performance of electronic, mechanical and thermal subsystems using approved industry techniques. For example, communications, power, data handling and thermal control.
Use scientific and engineering data. For example, to support decision making during design, build and operations phases of a mission or project.
Identify and apply test standards and procedures. For example, identify and apply test standards for a specific project or mission.
Prepare and apply technical documentation. For example, schedules, test plans, test reports, quality reports, and the digital tools used for their preparation.
Research technical solutions to problems. For example, use peer-reviewed literature and technical publications to research technical solutions with awareness of patent rules.
Use information technology including digital tools for presentation of data, digital communication, collaboration, design and analysis.
Identify and comply with legal and statutory requirements. For example, health and safety, Environmental protection, sustainability, space certification requirements and data protection.
Work with and lead others including, negotiation, conflict management, mentoring and developing others; taking account of diversity, equality and inclusivity.
Mission Analysis techniques using numerical analysis and simulation tools such as AGI-Systems Toolkit or NASA-GMAT.

Your training plan

During your apprenticeship, you will study for a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BEng) in Space Systems Engineering through the University of Portsmouth.

During term time, it is expected you will spend one day per week at university and four days embedded in Skynet engineering activities. During exam and university project periods, you will be granted additional time away from the workplace for study.

The course features a wide range of specialist modules to give you a solid theoretical grounding for your future real-world engineering. You'll also develop practical skills in systems engineering, hardware design, coding and the commercial application of your new abilities.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C/4 or above)
Maths (grade C/4 or above)

A Level in:

a STEM subject (grade C or above)
any subject (grade C or above)
any subject (grade B 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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

Many of our early careers roles are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold may impact which roles you are eligible for. You must be able to achieve BPSS (Baseline security) and many of them require you to be eligible for Security Clearance.

About this company

Babcock is an international defence, aerospace and security company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.

https://earlycareers.babcockinternational.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Fully funded qualification, personal development, training and opportunities, minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays, competitive pension scheme, employee share scheme, flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme

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

The space industry is experiencing phenomenal growth and is expected to triple in its current value globally by 2035. Space Systems engineering skills will continue to be in very high demand. Today’s apprentices will fill this vital gap in the UK’s skills economy.

On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, you will be invited to apply for one of a range of engineering opportunities within Babcock. You can expect a salary of over £35,000, dependent on the specific role.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000295414.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 20 May

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

Company’s application instructions

Once you’ve clicked ‘Apply’, you’ll be taken to our application site. Set up a candidate profile and you can apply for roles at Babcock.

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