Key Takeaways
- Undertake a 6-year Electronic Design Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree) with AWE.
- Earn a starting salary of £24,500, increasing to £26,000 in Year 2, with further annual increments.
- Gain practical experience and attend college part-time to achieve an HND and complete your degree apprenticeship.
- Applications close on 10th January 2027, but early application is strongly encouraged.
- Requires A-levels in Maths and a STEM subject (or equivalent) and 5 GCSEs including Maths and English. Must be a British Citizen aged 18+ by 31 August 2027.
About the Role
About the Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship will equip you with the foundational knowledge of electronics through practical projects. You will gain experience across various teams within AWE, understanding the application of electronics in the company. Concurrently, you will attend college part-time to achieve a Higher National Diploma (HND). Following the HND, you will enter the final two years of your apprenticeship, undertaking further placements and preparing for your Apprenticeship End Point Assessment, which marks the conclusion of your degree apprenticeship.
Key skills developed include:
- Basic electronic theory
- Identification and understanding of electronic components
- Circuit design and construction
- Semiconductor theory
- Troubleshooting and fault finding in electronic circuits
- Clear recording and explanation of work
- Test and measurements
Opportunities Upon Completion
Upon successful completion, you will be qualified to join one of our engineering teams as an Electronic Design Engineer. Potential career paths include:
- Analogue Electronic Engineer: Designing and supporting electronic circuits for power supplies and other equipment.
- Firmware Engineer or Digital Electronic Engineer: Developing instructions and digital designs for electronic systems using languages like VHDL or SystemVerilog.
- Pulsed Power Engineer: Working with high-voltage power systems, energy storage, and switching equipment.
- RF Electronic Engineer: Specialising in radio-frequency systems, including signal transmission and reception equipment.
- Embedded Software Engineer: Writing software for electronic devices and systems using languages such as C++ or Java.
- Electronic Systems Engineer: Defining system requirements, design, and verification processes.
About You
We are seeking enthusiastic individuals with a strong interest in electronics and a passion for learning. If you enjoy problem-solving, working with technology, and understanding how things function, this is an excellent opportunity.
Essential qualities include:
- A practical interest in engineering and technology
- Proficiency with computers and eagerness to learn new software
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills
- A good understanding of health and safety principles
- The ability to follow instructions accurately
- A positive, motivated attitude and a commitment to learning
- Confidence in mathematical principles and a willingness to develop these skills further.
Experience with Arduino or Raspberry Pi, analogue and digital electronics, or a passion for designing, building, testing, and repairing electronic circuits would be highly beneficial.
Entry Requirements
- An A level in Maths and another STEM (Physics, ICT, Computing, Electronics) based subject, Grade C or above, or equivalent BTEC level 3 /HNC/HND/T level in a relevant discipline.
- 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including Maths and English.
- Applicants must be British Nationals and aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027 due to security requirements.
Benefits
- Starting Salary: £24,500 per year, increasing to £26,000 in Year 2, with further annual increases based on performance and milestone achievement.
- Pension: Market-leading contributory pension scheme.
- Holiday: Generous paid holiday entitlement of 270 hours per year (inclusive of Bank Holidays), plus every other Friday off.
- Discounts: Access to an employee discounts portal for retail, hospitality, and leisure savings.
- Support: Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
- You will gain invaluable experience working alongside specialists on critical national security projects.
Location
Reading area: AWE Aldermaston and/or AWE Burghfield sites. On-site presence is required throughout the apprenticeship and subsequent role.
Start Date
1st September 2027
Apprenticeship Duration
6 years
Recruitment Process
This vacancy will close on 10th January 2027. Applications are reviewed as they are received, so early application is strongly encouraged.
- Online application: Submit your application for the apprenticeship.
- Online test: Successful candidates will be invited to complete online assessments (numerical, verbal, logical, and cognitive reasoning).
- In-person Assessment: Candidates who pass the online tests will be invited to an assessment centre scheduled for 10th February 2027 (subject to change).
All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance and undergo an Occupational Health pre-employment medical.