2026 Component Engineering Apprentice, Higher Level Apprenticeship in Mechatronics

Thales UK; Belfast; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm in Belfast is seeking a Component Engineering Apprentice to join their 3-year Higher Level Apprenticeship program in Mechatronics. The successful candidate will gain valuable on-the-job experience while studying towards a Foundation Engineering Degree. Responsibilities include learning key engineering techniques and supporting service-engineering activities. Applicants should have 56 UCAS points and 5 GCSEs including English and Maths.

Qualifications

• Relevant A level subjects must include Mathematics or Physics.
• Must be willing to work in an engineering environment.
• Eligibility to work in the UK is required.

Responsibilities

• Learn engineering principles and techniques.
• Engage in service-engineering activities.
• Support design and product implementation.

Skills

Engineering knowledge

Mathematics

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Education

56 UCAS Tariff points including A levels

5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English and Maths

Job description

2026 Component Engineering Apprentice, Higher Level Apprenticeship in Mechatronics

Are you passionate about engineering. Do you have an inquisitive mind. Are you looking for an employer who will provide valuable and exciting on the job experience within a global, innovative and industry-leading organisation? If so, read on to see what Thales has to offer. You will be studying towards a Level 5 Higher Level Apprenticeship, Foundation Engineering Degree (FdEng) in Mechatronics with our partners at the South Eastern Regional College in Bangor. During this 3 year programme, you will be given 1 day per week to attend college lessons, lectures and tutorials. For the other 4 days you will be working in business, embedding your college learning in a real-life engineering environment. On successful completion of the Higher-Level Apprenticeship, there may be scope to progress onto the BEng in Mechatronic Engineering at Ulster University.

Responsibilities

• Gain knowledge of engineering subjects; electronic, mechanical and software engineering.
• Familiarise yourself with the key techniques and technologies used in the design and implementation of the product.
• Learn to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Gain knowledge of the different disciplines within the Services function.
• Gain knowledge and be able use Services tooling and software packages.
• Learn and maintain knowledge of current industry standards for all service disciplines.
• Supporting the team to undertake service-engineering activities to deadlines and within budget.

Skills and Qualifications

• 56 UCAS Tariff points including A level (A2): Typical grade profile CC (to include 1 from Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Technology & Design, Design & Technology, Engineering, Electronics).
• 5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English and Maths.
• A full list of essential skills is available on employer's website by following the Apply Direct button.

Further Information

Applicants please note this position is under the auspices of ApprenticeshipNI provision. Please Note: due to funding obligations (i) applicants who already hold a relevant degree will not be eligible for this programme (ii) this opportunity is available in Belfast and open to all Northern Ireland residents. In addition, Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the programme is necessary. Start Date: 07 September 2026. 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 of our roles are subject to security restrictions. All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). 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. Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

Vacancy ID 1743693 Job Sector Apprenticeships,Engineering Area Belfast Location Belfast Salary £24,000 per annum No. vacancies 1 Contract Type Permanent Weekly hours 37 Published date 05/11/2025 Closing date 14/12/2025 Worktime 8 hours, Monday to Thursday & 5 hours, Friday; times to be confirmed