V05100 - Advanced Apprentice Machining

Our Submarines business has been safely delivering world class submarines to the UK Royal Navy for more than a century. The Astute class will equip the Royal Navy with its largest and most capable generation of attack submarines. We are responsible for the design, build, test and commissioning of these state‑of‑the‑art vessels.

We offer a competitive salary with annual increases throughout the apprenticeship and a range of employee benefits including free higher education as well as access to the company pension and share saving scheme.

Training course: Machining technician (level 3)

Hours: Shifts to be confirmed. 37 hours a week.

Start date: Monday 21 September 2026.

Duration: 3 years 6 months.

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:

• Using a variety of machines to manufacture components within a submarine build, ranging from manually operated machines such as lathes and milling machines, to Tornado (CNC lathe) and the Storm (CNC mill).
• You will learn skills such as turning, threading, milling, tapping and boring.
• Measuring and checking the components produced, adjusting the machinery and software to ensure the components meet the necessary specifications.
• Paying close attention to tolerances, which range from 0.5 mm to as little as 0.02 mm by utilising a range of measuring devices such as micrometres, vernier callipers, slip gauges and screw thread gauges.

Where you’ll work: BAE Systems, 1st Floor, Main Shipyard Offices, Barrow‑in‑Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1AF

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

Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures. Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, recycling 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 and select & set up 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 such as 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, and escalate issues as required. 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 and team‑working principles.

At least 20 % of your working hours will be spent on training or studying.

Requirements: GCSE in: 5 GCSEs (incl. Maths, English & Science or Technical) – grade A*‑C or 9‑4 or equivalent. Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

About this employer: At BAE Systems, we provide some of the world’s most advanced, technology‑led defence, aerospace and security solutions. We employ a skilled workforce of more than 93,000 people in around 40 countries. Working with customers and local partners, we develop, engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts.

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: Approximately 95 % of apprentices choose to stay on with us. As a global business there are a world of opportunities – whether you decide to stay in the UK, or explore an overseas role.

The contact for this apprenticeship is: FURNESS COLLEGE. The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000000084.

Apply now: Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026. Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply. After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company’s website.