Marine Systems Technician Apprenticeship - Level 3 in Southampton

The Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for Apprenticeships 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Met Office as a Marine Systems Technician Apprentice for up to 52 months commencing at the start of August 2026. You will develop skills and workplace experience in this occupation which may lead to a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship or the knowledge to gain employment within the wider industry.

As our Marine Systems Technician Apprentice, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non‑contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work. As apprentices are part of our Early Careers Programme, there is the expectation you attend the office once a week as a minimum in addition to your study day. Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, based in Southampton.

This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in Engineering. You will work with the Marine Systems Engineering (MSE) Team, which is a small team of 7 specialist engineers who have responsibility for ensuring our systems continue to supply the high‑quality data required to produce our weather forecast products and services. You will be involved in maintaining the systems to keep the network running, with time in the office and offshore.

Maintain automatic marine observation systems across our marine network, including working with systems on Met Ocean Data Buoys, light vessels and voluntary observation ships. Maintenance work is predominantly based at our facility at Southampton's National Oceanography Centre. Assemble, test and repair advanced weather observation instrumentation, data logging systems and satellite communication systems. Opportunities for UK and international travel to undertake servicing visits. This includes visiting offshore sites on a chartered buoy‑laying vessel for periods of 1–10 days several times a year, predominantly in the summer period. This work requires ENG1 seafarers and Working at Height medicals, Working at Height and Personal Survival Techniques training, all provided by the Met Office.

Training delivery and support: The apprenticeship standard you will follow will be the Engineering Maintenance Technician – Dual Discipline, Electrical and Control Instrumentation Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship – Level 3. You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. You will have on‑the‑job training and in‑house development opportunities during your apprenticeship. Throughout the apprenticeship you will have 1 day per week dedicated to your 20 % off‑the‑job training with the training provider, Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA). They will deliver the off‑the‑job training in a face‑to‑face style. You will also have regular review meetings with your dedicated workplace assessor and line manager.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience: Achieved or expect to achieve Maths GCSE (Grade 5+ or A*‑C). Interest or experience in electrical and/or electronic engineering and willingness to keep evolving by learning new skills. Experience of working together in a team and supporting others to achieve a common goal. Interest in undertaking occasional opportunities to work in an offshore marine environment on buoy‑laying vessels and at heights of up to 10 m on our deep ocean buoys and Trinity House light vessels.

Am I eligible to apply? In addition to the criteria listed above, you must also be eligible to qualify for apprenticeship funding by meeting the following: Not be enrolled on another funded apprenticeship or another funded further education or higher education programme at the time you start this apprenticeship. Are applying for an apprenticeship that is unrelated to any qualifications you already hold at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship. Are living in England at the time the apprenticeship commences.

How to apply: If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history (this could include voluntary or work experience roles) and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire.