Responsibilities
- Supporting system requirement and design activities
- Developing software solutions to fulfil an actual business need
- Contributing to project reviews
- Assisting with engineering investigations and problem solving
- Communicating technical recommendations to stakeholders
- Working with experienced engineers on live projects
What You Will Learn
- Professional engineering behaviours and industry best practice
- Working securely, ethically and responsibly with complex data in compliance with regulatory standards
- The Software Engineering lifecycle and key engineering processes
- Software Engineering tools and methods
- Requirement management, design techniques, and software code implementation
- Testing, integration, verification, validation and qualification (IVVQ) activities
- Structured and methodical approaches to problem solving and investigation
Apprenticeship Programme
You will study towards a Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship with Manchester Metropolitan University. As a Software Engineering Apprentice, you'll develop a broad set of skills and knowledge across the digital and technology landscape. You'll learn how information systems work, how software is built and tested, and how data and cyber security fit into real business environments alongside the fundamentals of business organisation, IT project management, and computer and network infrastructures. Your learning is supported through taught units and work-based projects, where possible focused on live business scenarios and real‑world problem solving, with experienced support throughout.
For the duration of this 4‑year programme you will attend Manchester Metropolitan University one day per week to study. For the other four days you will be working at our Cheadle site, applying your learning to real work projects and gain a breadth of experience with your teammates. At the end of the apprenticeship, you will be working as a Software Engineer within the Thales UK businesses.
Eligibility
104 UCAS points (A Level BCC)
Or an equivalent qualification such as
- BTEC Extended Diploma (DDM), T Level (Merit) or apprenticeship
And
- 5 GCSEs at Grade 9-4/A-C including Maths and English
Please note that applicants who already hold a relevant degree will not be eligible for this programme. Software Engineering and Computer Science are both relevant degrees.
Security and Background Checks
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 satisfy the security clearance requirements for access to highly sensitive information, applicants must have been British citizens from birth and must not hold any other nationality. This requirement is determined by the UK Government and is a condition of programme access rather than an employment preference. 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. In addition, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme and is therefore subject to government‑mandated nationality restrictions.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Benefits
- Receive job-specific training and development
- Achieve a recognised engineering qualification
- Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship
- Have your university tuition fees fully paid
- Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
- Performance-related pay uplifts
- Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
- Contributory Company Pension
- Health Care Cash Plan
- Hybrid/flexible working options
- Employee assistance programme
- Learning and development support
- Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
- Life Cover
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all.
The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role.
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2027 Software Engineering Apprentice in Cheadle employer: Thales Group
Thales is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Crawley. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities, competitive benefits including private medical insurance and annual bonuses, and a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact the future of technology. Join us to be part of a team that values diversity, encourages creativity, and prioritises ethical AI solutions.
