Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship

MARTIN-BAKER AIRCRAFT COMPANY LIMITED

Near Uxbridge, Oxfordshire

Closes on Sunday 11 January 2026

Posted on 19 November 2025

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Summary

Martin-Baker is the world’s leading manufacturer of ejection seats, helping to protect aircrew in the world’s most advanced military aircraft. Our mission is simple – to save aircrew lives. Join us on this mission through our Apprenticeship Programme, starting September 2026.

• Wage:

  £22,000 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Six monthly pay increases

• Training course: Machining technician (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8.00am - 5.00pm, Friday, 8.00am - 12.00pm.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 September 2026

• Duration:

  4 years

• Positions available:

  5

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

Why work for Martin-Baker

A career in aerospace with a British engineering firm that is saving lives worldwide. When you work at Martin-Baker, you’re providing pilots with their last form of defence.

What you’ll be doing:

• As well as achieving a qualification, you’ll learn about Martin-Baker through exposure to various Engineering & Manufacturing disciplines, fully supported by your team. These disciplines could include Machining, Assembly, Tool Room, Design and Environmental Test, and you could learn use of mills and lathes, pipe bending, riveting, deburring, inspection techniques, CAD modelling, and so much more
• We’ll also provide the time needed for your commitments with training providers so that you successfully achieve all aspects of your apprenticeship
• Our programme also helps you to develop your interpersonal skills with various activities throughout the course of the apprenticeship
• These opportunities include STEM outreach, support at careers and business fairs and challenging yourself with resilience training

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:

• Lower Road Higher Denham, Near Uxbridge, UB9 5AJ
• Chalgrove Airfield, Sir James Martin Way, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, OX44 7RJ

Training

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

Training provider

HRUC (HARROW, RICHMOND AND UXBRIDGE COLLEGES)

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
• Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
• Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
• Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
• Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
• Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
• Plan and organise own work and resources.
• Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Select machining process.
• Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
• Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
• Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
• Measure and check components.
• Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
• Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
• Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
• Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
• Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
• Apply ethical principles.
• Apply team working principles.
• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
• Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
• Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
• Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
• Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
• Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
• Plan and organise own work and resources.
• Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Select machining process.
• Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
• Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
• Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
• Measure and check components.
• Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
• Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
• Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
• Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
• Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
• Apply ethical principles.
• Apply team working principles.

Training schedule

• Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
• One day per week will be spent at HRUC, and 4 days per week will be on-the-job training

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Mathematics (grade 5)
• Science (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Team working

Other requirements

As part of the selection process for our Apprenticeship opportunities you will be required to complete online SHL Assessments. Should you require any reasonable adjustments you will have the opportunity to share these details with our recruitment team. We believe in equal opportunity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is respected. We want you to be able to do your best work. All candidates will be treated equally and fairly, regardless of their background, or any characteristic protected by law. Candidates will be selected entirely on their skills and competencies and in alignment with each role’s specifications and / or requirements. All published adverts will be aligned with the Company’s Diversity and Inclusion commitment. For all successful candidates, Martin-Baker will undertake background security checks. As part of this, we will need to confirm your identity, employment history and address history to cover the past five years as well as your nationality, immigration status and criminal record. For positions that require Security Clearance, the successful candidate must hold or be willing to obtain security clearance up to the relevant level for the role.

About this employer

Martin-Baker is the world's leading manufacturer of ejection seats & related equipment. It is the only company that can offer a fully integrated escape system that satisfies the very latest in pilot operational capability & safety standards. Martin-Baker offers a complete 'end-to-end service’, from helping the customer to establish operational safety and escape requirements, including design, development and qualification to on-going support throughout the entire service life of the aircraft.

https://martin-baker.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Competitive 9% non-contributory pension scheme (18+) 4x salary Life Assurance (18+) Personalised training & development plan Healthcare Plan 25-days annual leave, plus purchase additional annual leave Cycle to work scheme Discounts Platform

After this apprenticeship

• The future of engineering and manufacturing is changing. To future-proof your career Martin-Baker will always keep investing in your development. That’s a long-term promise. Because we want to learn from you, so keeping your skills up to date is important to us, and important for our future
• After completing their apprenticeship, colleagues have gone on to specialise in fields as varied as procurement, explosives, research & design, and CNC programming

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HRUC (HARROW, RICHMOND AND UXBRIDGE COLLEGES)

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000001146.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 11 January 2026

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.