Electronic Design Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree)

Electronic Design Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree)

About AWE 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 counterterrorism 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.

About the 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. 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

Opportunities when you complete your 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.

Apprenticeship Standard

ST0151

About You

We’re looking for enthusiastic people who are interested in electronics and keen to learn. If you enjoy solving problems, working with technology and understanding how things work, this could be a great opportunity for you. A practical interest in engineering and technology Confidence using computers and learning new software Excellent teamwork and communication skills A good awareness of health and safety The ability to follow instructions accurately A positive, motivated attitude and a passion for learning This apprenticeship includes a lot of maths, so you will need to feel confident with mathematical principles and be willing to keep developing these skills. If you have an interest in Arduino or Raspberry Pi, analogue and digital electronics, or you enjoy designing, building, testing and repairing electronic circuits, we would love to hear from you. This role may appeal to you if you enjoy: Analogue and digital electronics Designing, building, testing, and repairing electronic circuits Arduino or Raspberry Pi projects Solving practical problems and turning your curiosity about electronics into a career.

Entry Requirements

An A level in Maths and another STEM (Physics, ICT, Computing, Electronics) based subject, Grade C or above, or equivalent BTEC level 3 /HNC/HND/T level in relevant discipline 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including Maths and English 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

• Market leading contributory pension scheme
• Generous paid holiday entitlement of 270 hours per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays, plus every other Friday off as part of AWE’s flexible working pattern.
• Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services

Salary

A starting salary of £24,500 yearly, increasing to £26,000 in Year 2, with further annual salary increases throughout your apprenticeship, subject to satisfactory performance and achievement of apprenticeship milestones.

Location

Reading area: AWE Aldermaston and/or AWE Burghfield sites, depending on your apprenticeship pathway, placements and business needs. Due to the nature of our work and security requirements, you should expect to work on‑site during your apprenticeship and in your role after you complete it. Being on‑site means you can learn directly from experienced technical specialists, access hands‑on support, and build valuable connections across the business.

Start Date

1st September 2027

Annual Leave

Annual leave will not be granted from 1st September until 2nd October 2027 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.

Recruitment Process

This vacancy will close on 10th January 2027, but we review applications as they come in—so we strongly encourage you to apply early. We want you to shine in your application process which is designed to be fair and transparent. So we've kept it simple with a three step process. Online application: Apply for one apprenticeship; take your time to explore the options and choose the one that best matches your interests and goals. Online test: If successful, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage. These include online testing against numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests. Don't be intimidated: practice assessments will be available so you will be fully equipped with the knowledge of what to expect. In‑person Assessment: Those successful at testing will be invited to a assessment centre. The Assessment Centre is scheduled for 10th February 2027. Please note that this date may be subject to change, but rest assured, we’ll keep all applicants informed throughout the process. 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.

We are at the start of a once in a generation – possibly two generations – programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent. We will do this while continuing to deliver the Trident programme as well as managing ambitious state‑of‑the‑art capital and construction projects – some of which have never been done before. We are recruiting right across the business: from technical roles in engineering, science, manufacturing and industrial work to business roles in areas such as IT, project management/ controls, commercial, human resources and facilities management. We also have our Evolve graduate programme, or you may be interested in an apprenticeship with our award‑winning Skills Academy. What we do is vital to national nuclear security. Keeping our nation, everyone, our environment and everything around us safe and secure is a top priority for us. So, as you would expect, that brings with it a high level of safety and security that you will see across our sites and in how everyone who works here operates. We are always looking for high calibre people to join our team, so why not explore the opportunities we currently have on offer. Whatever stage of your career, AWE is an exciting and challenging environment to develop your skills and achieve your potential.

We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

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