2027 AI Engineer Apprentice - Level 6 - Crawley

Working as part of our AI and engineering community, you will contribute to live projects across the machine learning lifecycle, collaborating with software, data, systems and domain specialists to turn needs into secure, maintainable solutions.

What you'll do

• Preparing, exploring and validating data for machine learning use cases
• Developing and evaluating machine learning models and AI-enabled software components
• Writing clean, tested and documented code using appropriate engineering tools and practices
• Supporting model integration, deployment, monitoring and performance improvement
• Contributing to technical reviews, experiments and structured problem solving
• Working with experienced engineers and researchers on live projects

Training

You will study towards a Level 6 AI Engineer apprenticeship with QA, developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to build and apply artificial intelligence responsibly in an engineering environment.

The programme is delivered through a virtual learning model, combining:

• Live virtual lectures (28 days)
• Online learning resources
• Self-directed study

This programme will take you through the AI lifecycle, from design and build, through to deployment and governance – providing a strong foundation for your role within Thales. The programme includes the Microsoft certified Azure AI Engineer Associate qualification, in addition to the Level 6 Machine Learning Engineer Apprenticeship qualification.

After the apprenticeship

After the apprenticeship you will role of into the business as a AI Engineer.

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE, 5 GCSE's Including English and Maths (grade Grade 9-4 (A-C))
• Essential: A Level, 3 A Levels in Maths and a relevant subject (grade C or above with a B in Maths)

Things to consider

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.

To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education 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.

Benefits

• Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Contributory company pension
• Health care cash plan
• Employee assistant programme
• Learning and development support
• Employee discounts and wellbeing portal
• Life cover
• 80 hours volunteering er year (first two years), then 24 hours per year after that

About the 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. Together we supply invention across 4 core areas: Aerospace, Space, Defence and Security, Digital Identity and Security.

Apprenticeship details

• Course: Machine learning engineer (level 6), Digital
• Apprenticeship level: Degree (level 6)
• Training provider: QA LIMITED
• Expected duration: 2 Years
• Hours: 37 hours a week. Working week: Flexible working.

Monday - Thursday, 8 hours per day.

Friday, 5 hours.

• Start date: 6 September 2027
• Positions available: 1
• Wage: £24,000 a year