Engineering Manufacturing Support Technician Apprentice
TODS DEFENCE LTD
Dorchester, Portland
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Engineering and manufacturing support technicians assist engineers by providing technical expertise across functions such as CAD, CNC programming, quality control, robotics, additive manufacturing, software development, and process engineering.
- Wage
-
£15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday - flexi time contract (age dependant on working hours per day) Shifts to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 31 August 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 7 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
- Develop designs into a production ready product that meets the requirement specification
- Liaise with internal stakeholders and ensure that the Engineering process is adhered to
- Ensuring all design activity is carried out to Company procedures or overriding customer requirements
- Ensure project conformity to requirements
- Assist with design file management, project schedule adherence and project budget adherence
- Assist with Technical Query management and where necessary attend design reviews
- Work to EN 9100 (technically equivalent to AS9100) Quality Standard
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Kings Point House, 5 Queen Mother Square, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3BW
- Tods Technology, Wide Street, Portland, DT5 2JP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
YEOVIL COLLEGE
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
- Training will take place onsite at Tods Engineering Hub, Poundbury as well as 1 day a week at Yeovil College
- Apprentices will also be required to work from our Portland Manufacturing HQ on a regular basis
More training information
- The apprenticeship training is delivered through a combination of workplace learning and regular college attendance
- This training will teach you the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the Engineering Manufacturing Support Technician Standard
- On completion the apprentice will receive the BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence),BTEC L3 Diploma Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge) and EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence)
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C)
- Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
- You must be prepared to commit to your work and training for the duration of the apprenticeship
- In some cases, you may be required to have a telephone interview with Yeovil College prior to your application being passed on
- If a suitable candidate is found prior to the advertised closing date, it may close earlier so please apply early to avoid disappointment
About this employer
Tods have been in existence for more than 90 years and is a preferred choice for the Royal Navy for the production of sonar domes, acoustic windows, acoustic coatings and other complex structures for surface warships and submarines.
The company has also built an impeccable reputation for quality and delivery to over 25 navies worldwide, from Europe to USA and Asia.
Products and services include the design and manufacture of sonar domes, submarine acoustic windows, acoustic cladding, damping treatments, radomes and other multifunctional structural composite enclosures that enhance the performance of vital sonar, radar and communications equipment.
http://www.tods.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 25 Days holiday per year + bank holidays
- Health Cash Plan with Westfield Health
- Cycle2work and Home & Tech Schemes
- Annual travel insurance
- Participation into annual bonus scheme
After this apprenticeship
- Tods is currently growing as a business, therefore, plenty of opportunities to develop with the business
- Our aim is to retain the apprentice once qualification is achieved / completed
- The role could development into a Senior position in the future
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
YEOVIL COLLEGE
Gabrielle Cobner
studentrecruitment@yeovil.ac.uk
01935 845380
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025217.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 11:59pm)