Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom
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.
2027 Software Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Apprenticeship
Start Date: 6 September 2027
Salary: £24,000 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Cheadle
Working Schedule: Monday - Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday - Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
Turn your curiosity into a career. If you're passionate about engineering, eager to learn, and looking for a degree apprenticeship that combines academic study with exciting on-the-job experience, we'd love to hear from you.
Benefits of the programme:
- Earn a salary while studying for your degree
- Gain hands‑on experience in a real engineering environment
- 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
About the Role
As a Software Engineering Apprentice , you will develop the technical knowledge, practical skills and professional behaviours needed to become a confident and capable engineer. Working as part of our Software Engineering team, you will support the delivery of software solutions, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
Your responsibilities may include:
- 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
Throughout the apprenticeship, you will gain experience and knowledge in:
- 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.
The programme is delivered through a blended learning approach, combining:
- On campus teaching, face to face one day a week during the academic year
- Online workshops/classes
- Guided self‑study
Throughout the 4‑year programme, you will combine university study with practical workplace experience, developing both academic knowledge and professional engineering skills.
Entry Requirements
To apply, you will need:
- 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
Benefits
- 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
- 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)
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2027 Software Engineering Apprentice in Cheadle employer: Thales
Thales is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Glasgow where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits including a performance-related bonus and generous leave policies, and a commitment to inclusivity, Thales empowers its employees to thrive while contributing to critical projects in the Sea sector. Join us to be part of a team that values your unique strengths and supports your professional growth.
