Apprentice Design Engineer
THERMON (UK) LTD
SUNDERLAND, Washington
Closes in 6 days (Tuesday 9 June 2026)
Posted on 3 June 2026
Contents
Summary
Thermon (UK) Ltd are recruiting an Apprentice Design Engineer in Sunderland. Gain hands-on experience designing electrical heat tracing systems, using AutoCAD, and supporting live engineering projects while completing a Level 3 Engineering Design Technician Apprenticeship within a supportive global engineering company.
- Wage
-
£15,600 to £24,784.50, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Successful applicants will commence employment in September and will receive a the national living wage during the first year of the apprenticeship. This rate may be reviewed and increased throughout the apprenticeship.
- Training course
- Engineering design technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 5:00pm, Friday - 8:30am - 3:45pm
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 14 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 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
Duties will include, but are not limited to:
Assisting in the design of electrical heat tracing systems
Supporting the preparation of engineering documentation, including:
- Isometric drawings
- Cable schedules and single line diagrams
- Bills of Materials (BOMs)
- Layout and installation drawings
- Learning to use AutoCAD to create and modify technical drawings
- Working from customer drawings and specifications with support from senior engineers
- Collaborating with project managers, CAD technicians, and other engineering team members
- Assisting with site surveys and data collection where required
- Ensuring all work follows relevant industry standards and safety requirements
- Maintaining accurate records and documentation
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:
- OF1/OF2, WASHINGTON BUSINESS CENTRE, 2 TURBINE WAY, SUNDERLAND, SR5 3NZ
- 17 Sedling Road, Wear Industrial Estate, Washington, NE38 9BZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SUNDERLAND ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Training course
Engineering design technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
- Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
- Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
- Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
- Select materials and parts.
- Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
- Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
- Provide feedback on engineering designs.
- Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
- Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
- Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
- Read, interpret and establish design intent.
- Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
- Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
- Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.
- Option 1. Produce general arrangements of electrical power.
- Option 1. Produce detailed drawings of electrical power components such as wires connection, voltage, capacity, main switches.
- Option 1. Identify cable types and application.
- Option 1. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce electrical power project deliverables such as output drawings and electrical designs.
- Option 2. Produce general arrangements of control and instrumentation designs.
- Option 2. Produce detailed drawings of control and instrumentation components such as cable numbers, wire colours, junction block numbers and panel identification.
- Option 2. Identify different cable types and appropriate application.
- Option 2. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce control and instrumentation project deliverables.
- Option 3. Produce general arrangements of mechanical designs.
- Option 3. Produce detailed drawings of mechanical components such as part dimensions, shape and manufacture.
- Option 3. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce mechanical project deliverables.
- Option 4. Produce general arrangements of piping design.
- Option 4. Produce detailed drawings of piping components such as pipework, ducts and fittings and including supports and skids.
- Option 4. Use digital tools such as CAD or Plant Design Management Systems to produce piping design project deliverables.
- Option 5. Produce general arrangements of structures showing multiple materials such as steel, concrete, masonry, timber.
- Option 5. Produce detailed drawings for multiple materials such as steel, concrete, timber or masonry.
- Option 5. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce structural project deliverables.
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
- Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
- Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
- Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
- Select materials and parts.
- Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
- Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
- Provide feedback on engineering designs.
- Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
- Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
- Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
- Read, interpret and establish design intent.
- Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
- Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
- Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.
Training schedule
Engineering Design Technician Level 3.
For the first two years of the apprenticeship, you will attend Seta in Washington on day release, the remaining 4 days of the week will be spent in the workplace.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
Other requirements
- Interest in engineering
- Basic IT skills (Microsoft Office)
About this employer
Thermon is a global leader in industrial process heating, temperature maintenance, environmental monitoring, and power distribution solutions.
We deliver engineered solutions that improve safety, reliability, and efficiency across critical infrastructure including energy, chemical processing, and transport industries. With a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and integrity, Thermon provides a supportive environment where employees can develop and grow their careers.
https://thermon.com/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Structured training and mentoring throughout the apprenticeship
- Career development opportunities
- A supportive team environment
- Hands-on experience
After this apprenticeship
It is expected that the successful candidate will progress into a fully qualified Design Engineer role upon completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SUNDERLAND ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Gabriella Smith
gabriella.smith@seta.co.uk
0191 416 2860
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000032573.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Tuesday 9 June 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.