2026 Engineering (Field Service) Apprentice – Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering

2026 Engineering (Field Service) Apprentice Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering

Start Date: 07 September 2026

Salary: 24000 per annum

Employee type: Permanent

Location: Helensburgh

Working Schedule: 37 hours a week Monday Thursday 8 hours a day Friday 5 hours (Flexible start time between 07:00 and 09:30)

Are you looking to launch a career that matters Join Thales UK and become part of a team that designs and builds the cutting-edge technology protecting our Armed Forces on land sea air and cyberspace.

Whether its sonar systems in submarines secure communications electronic warfare technology or digital defence solutions youll be engineering and maintaining the systems that defend Great Britain and its allies.

This role is based at Faslane Naval Base Helensburgh. Due to the location the successful candidate will be responsible for traveling to and from Helensburgh as well as traveling to Glasgow College 1 day a week for study commitments.

What the role has to offer:

• Earn while you learn
• Job specific training experience
• Recognised qualifications
• Permanent role from day one
• Tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully covered

You will be learning the engineering processes to support the front-line Royal Navy within HMNB Clyde and beyond working closely with a team of professional engineers to provide first class support on various naval systems including sonar electronic warfare communications masts and periscopes.

Apprentice Programme

Through this programme you will complete a full Modern Apprenticeship culminating in the attainment of an SVQ PEO Level 2 Diploma 7 and an HNC Level Academic qualification. You will attend Glasgow college on a day release basis to complete your academic learning. For the rest of the time you will be working in the Thales business applying your learning to real-life projects.

On completion of the 4-year programme successful candidates would achieve fully qualified Engineering status and will roll off the scheme into the business as Field Service Engineers.

Requirements:

• To access HNC Level Training you will require a minimum of 2 Highers in English and Maths at a level A or B Pass
• 5 National 5s including English Maths and a Science subject at Grade C or above

Need to be a resident in Scotland on or before 1 August 2026 and for the duration of the programme.

Benefits

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Please note assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2026. Induction week for all Graduates and Apprentices will take place from Monday 7 September - Friday 11 September 2026.

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026 this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note we will be in contact by the end of February 2026 with details of next steps.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

Recruitment Process:

For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process including hints and tips or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team a Graduate or an Apprentice please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales all our roles are subject to security restrictions.

All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK andwill be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full SecurityClearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below prior to starting with us.

This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held however if not currently held it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo achieve and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity eligibility to work in the UK time spent abroad over the last 5 years as well as employment and / or educational history.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

In line with Thales Baseline Security requirements candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles or the Early Careers Teamfor graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here apply now!