Production Development Engineer Apprentice
STEATITE LIMITED
Leominster (HR6 0QF)
Closes in 29 days (Friday 17 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 March 2026
Contents
Summary
As a Production Development Engineer Apprentice at Steatite, you will turn innovative designs into high-quality products, gain hands-on experience bridging design and manufacturing, and develop advanced engineering skills on products used in defence, aerospace, and industry.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
In company:
Monday to Thursday: 8:30 to 17:00
Friday: 8:30 to 14:00
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 9 months
- 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
- Translate design concepts into manufacturable processes and practical solutions.
- Develop and refine production methods, tooling, and testing procedures.
- Collaborate with design, quality, and manufacturing teams to troubleshoot and resolve production challenges.
- Optimise product yield, reliability, and consistency in production.
- Support new product introductions and manage changes to existing products.
- Ensure products meet performance, quality, and regulatory standards.
Where you'll work
Unit 15
Southern Avenue
Leominster
HR6 0QF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Training course
Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Training schedule
Formal training is delivered at HWGTA, located at Holmer Road, Hereford HR4 9SX - Duration approximately 40-45 months.
Level 3 comprises of:
Apprentices will spend Year 1 at HWGTA developing core practical and theoretical skills, including the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. Years 2–4 are mainly based in company, gaining hands-on experience across departments, supported by day-release classroom learning and completion of a Higher National Certificate in your specialist area
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade A*-C/ 4-9)
- Maths (grade A*-C/ 4-9)
- Science (grade A*-C/ 4-9)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication & teamwork
- Problem solving & analytical
- Detail & Organisation
- Creativity & initiative
- IT and numeracy skills
Other requirements
The positions could close earlier should an outstanding candidate be found.
About this employer
Steatite Antennas is a UK-based specialist in the design, manufacture, and testing of advanced RF and microwave antennas. Based in Leominster, we deliver mission-critical products used in defence, aerospace, industrial, and broadcast applications. Our engineers are involved in the full product lifecycle - from concept to deployment - gaining real hands-on experience in challenging, high-performance environments.
https://www.steatite-antennas.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
26 days holiday, Holiday purchase scheme, pension, share and bonus scheme, access to Westfield Health Healthcare Scheme, EV and cycle to work schemes.
After this apprenticeship
On completion, you could move into a technical engineering role at Steatite, with opportunities to progress into design, development, or specialist engineering positions. Continued learning and professional development, including higher education and professional registration, are fully supported.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Lisa Wilkinson
lisa.wilkinson@hwgta.org
01432377002
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020266.
Apply now
Closes in 29 days (Friday 17 April 2026 at 11:59pm)