Electronics Engineering Degree Apprentice

Summary

Kick-start your engineering career with Sonifex and Herts Uni! This four-year, paid degree apprenticeship lets you work on real R&D projects while earning a BEng (Hons) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Gain hands-on experience, learn from industry experts, and develop cutting-edge tech—without uni debt. Earn, learn, and innovate with us!

Wage

£17,750 a year

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Do you get paid? The benefit of doing an apprenticeship is you earn while you learn! You will be paid a fair wage as an apprentice, and will be reimbursed for travel costs to attend classes at university.

Training course

Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

The apprenticeship role is based within our R&D department, where the successful candidate will:

Work closely with senior engineers and designers on various R&D projects.
Participate in team meetings, offering feedback and ideas where appropriate.
Learn to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure project milestones are met.
Assist in designing and simulating electronic circuits using software tools.
Conduct testing and validation of circuit designs under supervision.
Prepare and modify circuit diagrams based on R&D requirements.
Maintain accurate records of circuit designs, test procedures, and results.
Assist in writing technical documentation for products, including user manuals, datasheets and technical papers.
Stay updated with industry trends and new innovations that may improve product development.
Assist senior engineers in developing new concepts and approaches for current and future projects.
Assist with programming embedded systems and microcontrollers, using languages such as C or Python.
Assist with the development of firmware for new devices.
Test and debug software and firmware applications under guidance.

Where you’ll work

61 STATION ROAD
IRTHLINGBOROUGH
WELLINGBOROUGH
NN9 5QE

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE

Your training course

Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Design functional electronic systems and circuits from component level
Utilise modern CAD technology to implement circuit design with understanding of considerations for heat dissipation, electrical interference and other industry specific considerations affecting layout
Write and document structured code to comply with industry norms and to allow others to understand and subsequently maintain/modify the code
Utilise modelling techniques for circuit design, embedded software development and thermal management
Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and practice of design for market, design for manufacturability, design for testability and design for maintainability
Ability to develop a test plan for a product that they have developed
Ability to explain the process by which a product is introduced into production, including what aspects are discussed at what stage and with whom and how development gateways work
Ability to develop a basic project plan including resource planning, time planning, use of contingencies etc. Also techniques for predicting pinch points and strategies for timescale recovery
Awareness of international standards and compliance requirements for the products designed by the employer. Ability to discuss the differences between legislative and non-legislative requirements
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of basic business fundamentals including costs, overheads, gross margin, net margin, profit, and cash
Ability to demonstrate awareness and understanding of basic health and safety principles both in the general workplace and specific to electronic circuit design

Your training plan

Your training will take place at the University Of Hertfordshire - College Lane Campus, SPECTRA, Hatfield AL10 9UW

Teaching:

Day release delivery with two block release weeks every semester.
Teaching over Semesters A and B on campus, with online touch points in C.

More training information

Why choose this course?

This BEng Honours in Electrical and Electronic Engineering will give you a sound technological background in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.

What will I study?

The School has a reputation for innovation in teaching and learning with most modules delivered through a combination of traditional face to face teaching and distance learning through the university's StudyNet web based facility. With a heavy emphasis on Computer Aided Engineering, the school has a policy of using industrial standard software wherever possible.

This engineering apprenticeship follows a part-time, day-release model with some block teaching in each Semester.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English Language (grade 4 / C equivalent)
Maths (grade C/4)

A Level in:

Maths or equivalent (grade B)
Physics or Technology or Engineering-based subject (grade B)

BTEC in:

Extended Diploma in Engineering (DDM) to include d (grade DDM)

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
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

The successful candidate will need reliable transport to and from work, as well as to be able to attend classes at The University of Hertfordshire (Hatfield), which will usually be once a week. Having your own vehicle will be preferred.

About this company

Sonifex is a Private Limited Company owned by the Directors, which manufactures broadcast audio equipment for the radio, TV, security and telecommunications industries. This is a family business, started as a partnership in 1969 by Paul and Dorothy Brooke, which has had a steady turnover of trading, and has established a recognised position in the radio broadcasting industry. The company became a limited company in 1983 and the operation moved to new purpose built premises at Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, during 1986. In 1987, the size of the premises was doubled to 11,000 square feet of production space with excellent working conditions and facilities for recreation. An extension was completed in February 1998, adding another 7,000 ft² of engineering and storage space. Paul retired as Managing Director in 1994, when Marcus Brooke took over. The company presently employs forty three staff with a high percentage of those dedicated to R&D projects entirely motivated from within the company. Over 90% of British radio broadcast studios have in the past used some form of Sonifex equipment and the company exports on average 50% of its products. Sonifex supplies equipment to over 60 countries world-wide and is recognised for the quality and reliability of its designs and finished equipment. Sonifex manufactures telephony equipment and is authorised as a BABT (British Approvals Board for Telecommunications) certified manufacturing facility. Sonifex also operates a quality system and achieved ISO9002 status in 1999. The constant need to innovate is now an integral part of the Sonifex culture, combining healthy and outward-looking ideas with sound and efficient design practices. During the next decade Sonifex will consolidate its position in the broadcasting and security industries by expanding its research and development efforts in order to offer new designs of equipment reflecting the quality and reliability that is expected by its customers.

https://www.sonifex.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Sonifex manufactures broadcast audio equipment for the radio, TV, security and telecommunications industries. We supply equipment to over 60 countries globally and are recognised for the quality and reliability of our designs and finished equipment.

After this apprenticeship

The broad-based skills acquired during this course will equip you to enter a wide range of electrical and electronics sectors. Our previous graduates have found employment in medical electronics, power generation and distribution industries, communications, avionics and automotive electronics, with many successfully moving into management positions within a few years. Many others decide to stay at the University and extend their engineering education to a postgraduate level.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE

Dominic Whyte-Ifill

D.Whyte-Ifill@Herts.ac.uk

07543301817

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000311527.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 7 June 2025

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