Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship

Summary

AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear organisation with over 80 years of design, engineering and project management expertise. We are looking for Rail Engineering Apprentices to join our existing team of apprentices, working on future testing projects.

Annual wage

£26,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Attractive salary progression structure to be discussed at interview.

Training course

Rail engineering technician (level 3)

Hours

Shifts to be confirmed. There is a requirement to travel daily, to work and stay away from home at locations around the UK (often for extended periods of time), and to work unsociable hours, often in inclement weather conditions.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

3 years

Positions available

8

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 Apprentice Tester, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on an exhilarating journey and become part of the team ensuring the safe and efficient functioning of railway signalling systems. You'll receive hands-on training, guided mentorship, and practical experience in testing and maintaining complex signalling equipment, contributing directly to the safety and reliability of the entire rail network. 

Day to day you’ll be working as part of a site team alongside our client on projects which could be anything from an upgrade to a Level Crossing, to legacy work on a major renewal of railway signalling at the forefront of digital IP technology using our own ElectroLogIXS electronic interlocking and level crossing controller system.

You might not fully understand what this all means now but we’re confident that fairly quickly you will, and you’ll be as passionate as we are about developing the future of signalling.  

Here's some specifics for you so you can see in more detail what you could be involved in, but don’t worry if you don’t understand it all now, we’ll help bring this to life at interview stage: 

Under the guidance of experienced professionals, you'll gain a deep understanding of railway signalling systems, safety protocols, and testing methodologies.
Assist in conducting thorough testing, inspection, and maintenance of signalling equipment, including switches, signals, track circuits, and interlocking systems.
Develop the ability to diagose faults and anomalies within signalling systems, working closely with the senior team members to troubleshoot and rectify issues promptly.
Work within strict safety procedures to ensure the safety of you and your colleagues at work.
Collaborate with senior testers, engineers, and others to enhance your understanding of signalling technology and its role within the broader railway operations.
Contribute ideas to improve testing processes, efficiency, and safety protocols, showcasing your commitment to development and innovation.
As you advance, gradually take on more responsibilities and develop into a skilled professional capable of independent testing and maintenance tasks.
Thrive in a changing environment whee you will need to be agile to respond to different situations.

Where you’ll work

Woodcote Grove

Ashley Road

Epsom

Surrey

KT18 5BW

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

ELEV8 TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Rail engineering technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Your training plan

Rail Engineering Technician Level 3 Standard
Training schedule has yet to be agreed. Details will be made available at a later date.

More training information

Your apprenticeship will be a mix of training and hands-on experience that will complement each other across a 3 year structured programme. This starts in the first year providing you with training and information about working safely on the railway and taking you through industry recognised training courses such as Basic Signalling, Signal Works Testing Mod 5 (Assistant Tester) and Electronic Principles.  

There is a blended learning approach which will include face-to-face learning, on-the-job learning, webinars, assessments, assignments and presentations. Year 2 and 3 you’ll see progression to achieving an IRSE (Institute of Railway Signal Engineers) licence and working towards professional membership. At the end of the year 3 you’ll achieve a Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician qualification and a range of industry recognised training courses. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

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
Presentation skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative

Other requirements

Due to railway health and safety requirements, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old when you join us in September 2025 and will need a full clean driving licence at this point. This is essential for the role as it is site based.

About this company

AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear organisation with over 80 years of design, engineering and project management expertise. Our global team of 36,000+ employees speak over 70 languages and represents 130 nationalities across six continents. Our work covers a variety of sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, environment, water, energy, defence, technology, and aerospace. Here, you’ll join a diverse, inclusive environment, and be surrounded by inspiring colleagues.

Company benefits

• Join hundreds of talented apprentices, with opportunities from skill-building to social events, charity challenges, social clubs, and more. • Access to a wide variety of benefits including discounted gym membership, retail discounts and much more.

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

At the end of year 3 you’ll achieve a Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician qualification and a range of industry recognised training courses.

Ask a question

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