Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprentice

TODS DEFENCE LTD

Portland (DT5 2JP)

Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 8 April 2026

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Summary

Engineering Manufacturing Technicians provide technical support to help develop, produce, and test products efficiently to meet quality, cost, and delivery needs. They analyse data, solve problems, and create or update technical documents guiding design, production, testing, and maintenance.

Wage

£15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Thursday– flexi time contract (age dependant on working hours per day).

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 31 August 2026

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

2

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

  • Produce formal Manufacturing Instructions, Route Cards, bill of materials and manufacturing specification data in accordance with company standards
  • Develop the most cost effective and efficient solutions that satisfy design to cost and design for manufacture best practice
  • Specify material requirements, define suitable methods of manufacture and identify and implement tooling and equipment
  • Creation of test specifications and manufacture of composite and polymer test samples
  • Develop processes to a production steady state standard that meets specification and design intent
  • Utilise Lean Principles to improve the product, process flow, build cycle and waste reduction

Where you'll work

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 manufacturing technician (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.

Training schedule

Training will take place onsite at Tods Manufacturing HQ in Portland as well as 1 day a week at Yeovil College

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 Technician standard
  • On completion the apprentice will receive the BTEC L4 HND Manufacturing Operations for England

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C)
  • Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C)

Other in:

STEM subjects (Maths, Physics etc) (grade 4/C or above)

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

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 ME role 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 VAC2000025230.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 11:59pm)