Electronic Design Apprenticeship

As an Electronic Design Apprentice, you will start by learning the basics of electronics through practical projects. You will then spend time in different teams across the business, building your skills and understanding how electronics are used at AWE.

What you'll do

As an Electronic Design Apprentice, you will start by learning the basics of electronics through practical projects. You will then spend time in different teams across the business, building your skills and understanding how electronics are used at AWE. Alongside this, you will attend college part-time to work towards a Higher National Diploma (HND). After completing your HND, you will move into the final two years of your apprenticeship, where you will complete further placements and work towards your Apprenticeship End Point Assessment, which is the final stage of your degree apprenticeship.

Through a mix of college learning, planned placements and hands-on experience at work, you will develop skills in:

• Basic electronic theory
• Recognising and understanding different electronic components
• Circuit design
• Circuit construction
• Semiconductor theory
• Finding and fixing faults in electronic circuits
• Recording and explaining your work clearly
• Test and measurements

Training

The apprenticeship is 60 months followed by the End Point Assessment.

Due to the security requirements associated with this apprenticeship, applicants must be British Nationals and be aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027.

Please note that the training provider for this apprenticeship will be an external organisation and is yet to be confirmed. We will share details once they are finalised. Training may be delivered through either day release or block release, depending on the provider and apprenticeship programme.

After the apprenticeship

On completion, you will be ready to join one of our engineering teams as an Electronic Design Engineer. Depending on the business need and the experience you develop, your career could include:

• Analogue Electronic Engineer – designing and supporting electronic circuits that control power supplies and other equipment.
• Firmware Engineer or Digital Electronic Engineer – creating the instructions and digital designs that help electronic systems work, using specialist languages such as VHDL or SystemVerilog.
• Pulsed Power Engineer – working with high-voltage power systems, energy storage and switching equipment.
• RF Electronic Engineer – working with radio-frequency systems, including equipment that sends and receives signals.
• Embedded Software Engineer – writing software that is built into electronic devices and systems, using programming languages such as C++ or Java.
• Electronic Systems Engineer – helping to define what a system needs to do, how it should be designed, and how to check that it works correctly.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Health and Safety Awareness

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE, 5 GCSEs inc English and Maths (grade 4/C or above)
• Essential: A Level, Maths or Stem related or BTEC (grade C or abvove)
• Essential: BTEC, BTEC level 3 /HNC/HND/T level (or A levels) (grade C or above)

Things to consider

Start Date: 1st September 2027.

Annual leave will not be granted from 1st September until 1st October due to mandatory inductions you are required to complete as part of your apprenticeship. Any leave approved after this point will depend on the training provider requirements for your apprenticeship and must be agreed in advance.

These roles are governed by Health and Safety at Work Regulations and require all candidates to have an Occupational Health pre-employment medical held at AWE which follows the initial selection process. All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.

If you choose to share information on your application form about support needs, learning differences, disabilities, health conditions or adjustments, we may contact you to understand how we can support you through the recruitment process. This information will only be used for this purpose and will be handled in line with GDPR.

Due to the security requirements associated with this apprenticeship, applicants must be British Nationals and be aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027.

Benefits

Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services

Alongside these benefits, you will learn from experienced specialists in their fields while contributing to work that supports national nuclear security, threat reduction and counter-terrorism.

About the employer

We're a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK's independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies.

Our work is critical. We're delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK's nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that's just part of the story.

We support the UK government in a range of vital areas – from counter-terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world-class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security.

At AWE, you'll find more than just a job. You'll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique.

Be extraordinary at AWE.

Apprenticeship details

• Course: Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree) (level 6), Engineering and manufacturing
• Apprenticeship level: Degree (level 6)
• Training provider: AWE PLC
• Expected duration: 5 Years
• Hours: 37 hours a week. Working week: 9 day fortnight. 33 hrs on the short week, 8hrs 15 mins per day.

41 hrs on the long week, 8hrs 15 mins per day. Monday to Thursday and Friday, 8hrs.

Please note hours may alter due to your offsite training establishment training times.

• Start date: 1 September 2027
• Positions available: 7
• Wage: £24,500 a year