Apprentice Manufacturing Engineer

Summary

Learning and developing practical and technical skills, attending college and other nominated training course, completing all relevant tests, exams and assignments to work towards generating effective programs, fixtures & Tooling for a variety of CNC/Manual machine tools in accordance with production requirements.

Wage

£19,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

16% Shift Allowance for morning and afternoon shift.

Training course

Engineering design technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday. Morning and Afternoon shifts. Mon-Thu Morning Shifts from 06:00 - 13:40 and Afternoon shifts from 13:35 - 21:15. Friday mornings 06:00 - 13:00 and afternoons 12:55 - 19:55.

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

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

To interpret design information and generate manufacturing instructions to enable products to be manufactured effectively
Generate programs for a variety of CNC machines using Siemens NX CAM software and Creo 2D software
Create Drawings for bespoke parts to be manufactured, in support of production such as fixtures, jigs & press tooling
Be able to build, inspect standard and specialised tooling for all machines
Test and prove programs to production status
Generate work instructions/ procedures as required and promote their use
Assist in the development of new methods and systems aimed at improving manufacturing effectiveness
Assist production and other departmental personnel as required
Make program edits on relevant machine controls to maintain product workflow
Comply with Company Code of Conduct and procedures, including Quality and HSE management processes
Take responsibility for the health and safety of yourself, colleagues and other persons who may be affected by your acts and omissions at work, and for the environment

Where you'll work

Progress Rail Services UK Ltd.
Osmaston Street
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5AN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

DCG

Your 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.

Your training plan

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C/4 or above)
Mathematics (grade C/4 or above)
Science/Technical/Engineering (grade C/4 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Team working
Proactive
Able to work under pressure
Able to prioritise
Willing to learn
Flexibility
Willing to work additional hrs
Understand Engineering Drawing

About this company

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, is one of the largest integrated and diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for the global rail industry. The company provides advanced EMD® locomotives, engines, and technologies, railcars, trackwork, fasteners, signalling, rail welding and Kershaw Maintenance-of-Way equipment, along with dedicated locomotive and freight car repair services, aftermarket parts support and recycling operations. Progress Rail’s deep industry expertise ensures a commitment to quality through innovative solutions. With a global network across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Australia, China, Germany, India, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, we are committed to serving our customers.

http://www.progressrail.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

After completing their Apprenticeship, the successful candidate will have the chance to specialise in either electrical or mechanical engineering.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DCG

Niall Nanson

niall.nanson@derby-college.ac.uk

01332387420

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000327679.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Tuesday 15 July 2025)

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