Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship - Safety Engineering
DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED
Bristol (BS16 1EJ)
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
Posted on 15 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Help ensure the safe operation of the Royal Navy's submarine fleet. During this five-year programme, you'll join our Submarine Support Engineering (SSE) team in Bristol, supporting the Ministry of Defence across a range of engineering projects while gaining a fully funded degree.
- Wage
-
£27,381 a year
- Training course
- Manufacturing engineer (degree) (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 1 September 2027
- Duration
-
5 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
As a Safety Engineering Degree Apprentice within our Submarine Support Engineering (SSE) team, you'll gain experience across a variety of engineering teams and projects. Supported by experienced engineers, you'll develop an understanding of how safety is managed throughout the engineering lifecycle while building your technical capability, confidence and professional judgement.
Your typical week could include conducting hazard identification and analysis, assessing the ability of submarine systems to perform their safety functions, and evaluating risks to personnel and platforms. You'll also support the design and assessment of systems and components to meet demanding operational and safety requirements.
During your apprenticeship, you may be involved in activities such as updating Safety Cases, supporting design reviews and safety assessments, developing Bow Tie models of platform hazards, collating evidence to support certification, undertaking technical investigations and feasibility studies, and participating in platform surveys at locations including Devonport Royal Dockyard and HM Naval Base Clyde.
You'll develop a broad range of engineering skills while gaining experience with industry-standard safety engineering tools, including BowTieXP, Adelard Safety Case Environment and Reliability Workbench. You may also complete placements outside Bristol to broaden your experience and support your development.
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
Manufacturing engineer (degree) (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes, operational designs, or specifications for manufacturing projects or programmes of work.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve problems and determine solutions or actions.
- Collate, store, use and present data and supporting documentation.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as planning, safety, quality, cost, performance and sustainability.
- Apply processes for project or programme management such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety and security standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity.
- Identify and use manufacturing processes, resources and technologies to turn the materials, components or other commodities into a finished product or system.
- Apply quality management and assurance processes to identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the manufacturing engineering process.
- Carry out pre operations checks of engineering manufacturing systems and equipment before use.
- Manage continuous improvement activities using techniques such as Six Sigma, 5s, Kaizen, Lean, Kanban, Statistical Process Control or Value Stream Mapping.
- Create, maintain and review project documentation. Record and action any non-conformities.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Communicate in writing for example technical reports, documents and presentations.
- Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders. Manage differing and competing interests with stakeholders.
- Identify and complete opportunities for personal and professional development including keeping up to date with current and emerging technology.
- Apply and promote policies and practices to support equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Consider management of change (MOC) requirements when undertaking manufacturing projects or programmes of work.
- Comply with environmental and sustainability legislation, regulations and standards associated with the manufacturing engineering environment. Uses resources efficiently, for example waste minimisation.
- Ensure equipment is managed and maintained.
- Optimise processes and procedures, such as relating to safety, efficiency, performance, productivity and sustainability.
- Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured, checked and tested for safe operation, efficiency and reliability.
- Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes, operational designs, or specifications for manufacturing projects or programmes of work.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve problems and determine solutions or actions.
- Collate, store, use and present data and supporting documentation.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as planning, safety, quality, cost, performance and sustainability.
- Apply processes for project or programme management such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety and security standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity.
- Identify and use manufacturing processes, resources and technologies to turn the materials, components or other commodities into a finished product or system.
- Apply quality management and assurance processes to identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the manufacturing engineering process.
- Carry out pre operations checks of engineering manufacturing systems and equipment before use.
- Manage continuous improvement activities using techniques such as Six Sigma, 5s, Kaizen, Lean, Kanban, Statistical Process Control or Value Stream Mapping.
- Create, maintain and review project documentation. Record and action any non-conformities.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Communicate in writing for example technical reports, documents and presentations.
- Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders. Manage differing and competing interests with stakeholders.
- Identify and complete opportunities for personal and professional development including keeping up to date with current and emerging technology.
- Apply and promote policies and practices to support equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Consider management of change (MOC) requirements when undertaking manufacturing projects or programmes of work.
- Comply with environmental and sustainability legislation, regulations and standards associated with the manufacturing engineering environment. Uses resources efficiently, for example waste minimisation.
- Ensure equipment is managed and maintained.
- Optimise processes and procedures, such as relating to safety, efficiency, performance, productivity and sustainability.
- Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured, checked and tested for safe operation, efficiency and reliability.
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 campus two days per week, and from year two you'll study there one day per week. Your academic learning will cover topics such as thermofluids, structural mechanics, manufacturing technology, simulation and process safety, giving you the essential knowledge to complement your work-based learning.
In addition, you will receive training in safety engineering techniques each year throughout your apprenticeship. These courses will be delivered at either Babcock's Bristol or Devonport sites and count towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Topics may include risk analysis and ALARP principles, Bow Tie analysis, fault tree and event tree analysis, hazard identification, and safety case writing.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C)
- Maths (grade C)
- Science (grade C)
A Level in:
- Biology, Chemistry, Computing/Computer Science (grade C)
- Mathematics (grade C)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
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 (NNPI) 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).
By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll be ready to step into a role within the Submarine Support Engineering (SSE) team as a degree-qualified Safety Engineer.
You’ll also have the opportunity to build on your progress toward professional registration as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer; a recognised benchmark of engineering competence, which can support your journey into more advanced roles, such as Senior Safety Engineer.
As a global organisation, Babcock provides countless opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. To support your growth, we’ve introduced the Babcock Role Framework, which outlines roles, career pathways, and development opportunities. With every job mapped to these frameworks, you’ll have a transparent view of the steps needed to reach senior engineering roles 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 VAC2000058721.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.