Mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship
DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED
Bristol (BS16 1EJ)
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
Posted on 15 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Help ensure the future strength and safety of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet. Over this 4-year programme, you’ll join our Submarine Support Engineering team in Bristol where you’ll play a meaningful role in engineering projects that matter, all while gaining a fully funded degree.
- Wage
-
£27,381 a year
- Training course
- Electro-mechanical engineer (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 1 September 2027
- Duration
-
4 years
- 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
- From the moment you join us, you’ll become part of a team delivering vital engineering support to the UK’s defence sector. As an apprentice within Submarine Support Engineering (SSE), you will complete a structured programme of placement rotations where you’ll explore a variety of engineering teams and projects. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers across mechanical, structural and electrical disciplines, supporting a range of cutting-edge submarine projects that support both in-service platforms and those still in development.
- Your typical week could include performing structural assessments, conducting analytical calculations, using engineering analysis tools, and supporting the design and assessment of systems and components to meet demanding operational and safety requirements.
- During your apprenticeship, you may be involved in: Assessing submarine structures for explosive shock survivability; Conducting technical performance analyses on mechanical systems and components;
- Supporting technical investigations and feasibility studies, or;
·Taking part in platform surveys at locations such as Devonport Royal Dockyard and HM Naval Base Clyde. - Your apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to build a broad range of engineering skills, understanding design intent and experiencing lifecycle support activities across multiple disciplines. You will also gain exposure to safety cases, certification activities, capability upgrades and configuration changes that are critical to the safe and effective operation of the UK’s submarine fleet.
- You will also begin using industry-standard tools and software relevant to your chosen pathway, such as Ansys, FloMASTER, MathCAD and AutoCAD. You will be supported every step of the way by experienced mentors who will help you grow your technical capability, confidence, and professional judgement.
- During your apprenticeship, you will be required to complete placements outside of Bristol to ensure you fully meet the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours requirements of your apprenticeship standard, and to gain broad, practical experience across engineering disciplines.
Where you'll work
Unit 100
Bristol Business Park
Bristol
BS16 1EJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
Training course
Electro-mechanical engineer (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Communicate technical information with others at all levels, including technical reports and the use of digital tools.
- Follow a methodical approach to engineering problem solving.
- Establish and report engineering design briefs.
- Produce mechanical and electrical designs / drawings / sketches using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and manual systems.
- Model real-world mechanical systems efficiently.
- Select the design solution for a given electro-mechanical engineering application and environment using data to inform their decisions.
- Integrate electrical and mechanical engineering systems, considering new and emerging technologies.
- Use appropriate equipment to develop and execute test plans to support electro-mechanical product validation and approval.
- Design functional electronic systems and circuits from component level.
- Write and document structured programming code for electro-mechanical systems.
- Fabricate engineering components and assemblies using specialist manufacturing methods and hand fitting techniques.
- Assemble, wire, program and test electrical equipment, motors and control systems.
- Plan, manage and lead engineering projects.
- Perform risk management for engineering activities.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety requirements.
- Communicate technical information with others at all levels, including technical reports and the use of digital tools.
- Follow a methodical approach to engineering problem solving.
- Establish and report engineering design briefs.
- Produce mechanical and electrical designs / drawings / sketches using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and manual systems.
- Model real-world mechanical systems efficiently.
- Select the design solution for a given electro-mechanical engineering application and environment using data to inform their decisions.
- Integrate electrical and mechanical engineering systems, considering new and emerging technologies.
- Use appropriate equipment to develop and execute test plans to support electro-mechanical product validation and approval.
- Design functional electronic systems and circuits from component level.
- Write and document structured programming code for electro-mechanical systems.
- Fabricate engineering components and assemblies using specialist manufacturing methods and hand fitting techniques.
- Assemble, wire, program and test electrical equipment, motors and control systems.
- Plan, manage and lead engineering projects.
- Perform risk management for engineering activities.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety requirements.
Training schedule
As part of your apprenticeship, you will study for a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing through the University of the West of England (UWE), accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
In year one, you’ll attend UWE’s Weston campus two days per week. From year two onward, you’ll study one day a week at the Frenchay campus. Your academic learning will cover topics such as thermofluids, structural mechanics, manufacturing technology and simulation, giving you the essential knowledge to complement your work-based learning.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C)
- Maths (grade C)
A Level in:
- Maths (grade C)
- STEM (science, technology, engineering or maths) (grade 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
- Organisation skills
- Initiative
Other requirements
Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), Security Check (SC) and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.
Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.
About this employer
Babcock is an international defence, aerospace and security company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.
Company benefits
- Fully funded qualification
- Personal development training and opportunities
- 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme
- Employee share scheme
- Flexible benefits
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.
Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058710.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.