2026 Engineering (Component) Apprentice - Crawley
THALES UK LIMITED
Crawley (RH10 9HA)
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
Posted on 5 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about engineering? Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through a degree, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry-leading organisation? If so, read on to see what Thales has to offer…
- Wage
-
£24,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
• Pension – Thales match, plus 1%, with a maximum contribution of 7% • Health Insurance – 50% of salary for five years • Performance-related pay uplifts
- Training course
- Electrical and electronic engineer (degree) (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
-
4 years
- 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
This role will develop your engineering skills to become a confident, positive and flexible Component Engineering Apprentice with strong technical knowledge gained from on-the-job training and university studies. Supporting the team to undertake service-engineering activities to deadlines and within budget.
As a Component Engineering Apprentice, you will develop the key skills and experience in the following:
- Gain knowledge of engineering subjects; electronic, mechanical and software engineering
- Familiarise yourself with the key techniques and technologies used in the design and implementation of the product
- Learn to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
- Gain knowledge of the different disciplines within the Services function
- Gain knowledge and be able use Services tooling and software packages
- Learn and maintain knowledge of current industry standards for all service disciplines
Where you'll work
Manor Royal
Crawley
RH10 9HA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Training course
Electrical and electronic 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 electrical and electronic 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 processes, resources and technologies to complete electrical and electronic engineering projects or programmes of work.
- Apply quality management and assurance processes to identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the electrical and electronic engineering process.
- Carry out pre operations checks of electrical and electronic engineering 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 electrical and electronic projects or programmes of work.
- Comply with environmental and sustainability legislation, regulations and standards associated with the electrical and electronic 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 electrical and electronic 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 processes, resources and technologies to complete electrical and electronic engineering projects or programmes of work.
- Apply quality management and assurance processes to identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the electrical and electronic engineering process.
- Carry out pre operations checks of electrical and electronic engineering 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 electrical and electronic projects or programmes of work.
- Comply with environmental and sustainability legislation, regulations and standards associated with the electrical and electronic 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
- Through our degree apprenticeship you’ll be making the most of your talents, getting to understand engineering from the ground up; and doing so with the help of one of the biggest and best names in the industry
- As a Component Engineering Apprentice you will be enrolled onto the Level 6 Applied Professional Engineering Programme at Warwick University, following the Electrical/Electronic Technical Support Engineer pathway
- Delivered via a blended learning model, this programme combines the best of both with on campus delivery plus virtual coaching and online resources
- The first 2 years on programme will be common across all pathways and will provide a broad engineering skill set including mechanical, electrical, electronic, materials and design, plus computational
- In Year 3 and Year 4 learners will move to their specialist pathway. For the duration of this 4 year programme you will combine university studies with practical application, working within our services function in Crawley
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level 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
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
Other requirements
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all our roles are subject to security restrictions. All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational history. For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels
About this employer
Together, we create the ingenious technological systems and innovations that impact and improve people's lives every single day. Even if you haven't heard the name Thales before, you've definitely benefited from our inventiveness. We reinvest 20% of our sales in Research & Development in the UK. We support businesses, organisations, and governments in addressing tomorrow’s major challenges by developing advanced Defence, Security, Cybersecurity, Digital Identity, and Aerospace solutions, in the most sustainable, responsible, and ethical manner.
https://careers.thalesgroup.com/global/en/united-kingdom-apprenticeship (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays) • 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years) • Discount Portal • Health Care Cash Plan
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
- Will qualify and be a permanent member of the team within the Thales business
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THALES UK LIMITED
THALES UK LIMITED Thales Future Talent Team
suppearlycar@uk.thalesgroup.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000349550.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
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