Level 4 Lead Engineering Maintenance Technician apprentice

PLESSEY SEMICONDUCTORS LIMITED

Plymouth, PL6 7BQ

Closes on Friday 28 March 2025

Posted on 3 February 2025

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Summary

Plessey Semiconductors Limited are recruiting for a Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician apprentice to join their team! As an apprentice you will be learning how complex manufacturing systems work, and will build a portfolio of evidence to support you during the assessment process.

Wage
£21,079 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

We offer a competitive salary, plus additional employee benefits including private health insurance, pension scheme, life insurance, an onsite subsidised gym and canteen and 28 days holiday plus paid bank holidays.

Training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.30pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

3 years 6 months

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

During 2025 Plessey is offering two Level 4 Higher apprenticeship against the Lead Engineering Maintenance Technician standard. The academic element will be hosted by The Plymouth Engineering Skills Centre on a day release basis (1 day per week).

The apprenticeship consists of the HNC qualification and provides the opportunity to build the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) specified in the Level 4 Engineering Technician Standard. There is a minimum of 42 month before the KSBs are externally assessed during the Apprenticeship end-point assessment (EPA).

During your apprenticeship, you will build a portfolio of evidence to support you during the assessment process. You will receive guidance and supervision from The Plymouth Engineering Skills Centre and Plessey, who will support you every step of the way.

During the apprenticeship, you will be an employee of Plessey and will work alongside our engineers, undertaking on the job training.

As an apprentice:

  • You will be learning about the availability and performance of complex manufacturing systems
  • You will be gaining skills from the fields of electrical, mechanical and electronic engineering to be able to employ continuous improvement
  • You will learn data analysis techniques to bring and keep systems at their optimum level
  • You will learn about the specification and installation of new systems, to ensure their smooth integration into the manufacturing line

Where you’ll work

Tamerton Road Roborough

Plymouth

PL6 7BQ

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

CORNWALL COLLEGE

Your training course

Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.

Your training plan

  • Apprenticeship Standard: Engineering Manufacturing Technician Level 4 incl HNC
  • The apprenticeship consists of the HNC qualification and provides the opportunity to build the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) specified in the Level 4 Engineering Technician Standard
  • There is a minimum of 42 month before the KSBs are externally assessed during the Apprenticeship end-point assessment (EPA)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English (grade C/4)
  • Maths (grade C/4)

Desirable qualifications

A Level or equivalent in:

  • Maths and a Science/Engineering subject (grade C or above)

BTEC or equivalent in:

  • Electrical/Mechanical Engineering (grade Pass)

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
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

Our manufacturing facility is based at Roborough and adjacent to Dartmoor National Park.

About this company

Plessey is an embedded technologies developer at the forefront of microLED technology for augmented reality (AR) display applications. Drawing on over a decade of semiconductor and optoelectronics expertise, we have developed a unique and proprietary GaN-on-Silicon platform to manufacture innovative microLED displays. At our world-class manufacturing and innovation centre in Plymouth, we operate leading-edge wafer processing facilities to undertake the design, test and assembly of products and a comprehensive suite of photonic characterisation and applications laboratories. We are in an exciting phase of our development journey and are now closely partnering with Meta, who are developing new technologies to help connect and bring people together. Our mission is to help bring their vision of the next lightweight and stylish AR glasses to life.

https://plesseysemiconductors.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Successful completion of the units required to complete the HNC (2 years) will allow you to move to technician grade
  • Successful completion of the end-point assessment (EPA) will allow you to move to engineer grade
  • Some equipment engineers in the longer term become senior managers or technical specialists

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CORNWALL COLLEGE

Holly

01209 616452

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000300030.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 28 March 2025

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