2027 Systems Engineering Graduate

Thales; Stockport; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related pay uplifts

Holiday entitlement 201 hours/year

Contributory Company Pension

Health Care Cash Plan

Hybrid/flexible working options

Employee assistance programme

Learning and development support

Employee discounts and wellbeing

Life cover

Volunteering hours

Job summary

Thales in the UK offers a 3-year Engineering Development Programme for graduates starting September 2027. The scheme includes rotations in Year 3 around the country and a structured learning pathway to fast track development within engineering.

This entry-level opportunity requires a STEM bachelor’s degree and provides an accredited training route with exposure to multiple engineering domains. Hybrid/flexible working options are available.

Qualifications

• Entry-level graduate opportunity designed for individuals at the start of their professional career.
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM Subject in one of the listed areas.

Responsibilities

• Complete a 3-year Graduate Development Programme accredited by the IET, IMechE and RAeS.
• Year 3 rotation across the country to explore different engineering lifecycle areas.
• Follow a structured learning pathway to fast track development within the role.
• Develop key engineering skills, knowledge and competencies.

Education

Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering

Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering

Information Technology

Mathematics

Physics

Systems Engineering

AI, Machine Learning and Cybernetics

Computing or Computer Science

All applicable technical or related degrees will be considered

Job description

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 Systems Engineering Graduate

Start Date: 6 September 2027

Salary: £34,000 per annum

Employee type: Permanent

Location: Cheadle

Working Schedule: 37 hours per week (8 hours Monday - Thursday, 5 hours on a Friday)

Are you passionate about engineering? Do you have an inquisitive mind? Do you want to be part of a Graduate Programme that will develop and challenge you? If so, then look no further…

What is the Engineering Development Programme?

This is a 3-year programme with the option to rotate, in Year 3, around the country across different business units experiencing different parts of an engineering lifecycle. You will be assigned to a succession of new or existing programmes where you will work with and be supported by other engineers to design and develop engineering solutions to meet the needs of our customers.

During your time on the programme, you will be under the sponsorship and guidance of the Engineering Leadership team and will follow a structured and detailed learning pathway to fast track your development within your role.

During the programme, you will:

• Complete a 3-year Graduate Development Programme which is accredited by the IET, IMechE and RAeS
• An opportunity to rotate in Year 3 or explore an external secondment with one of our Thales partners
• Participate in a core training pathway focusing on transversal skills
• Develop key engineering skills, knowledge and competencies
• Work in a set location and domain for the entirety of the scheme, enabling you to fully understand how the Engineering Function operates
• Work on exciting new and existing products
• Build a professional network across the organisation

Requirements

This is an entry-level graduate opportunity designed for individuals at the start of their professional career. We welcome applications from candidates who have completed a degree and have limited relevant professional experience. You will have gained or be on track to achieve a bachelor’s degree in a STEM Subject in one of the following subject areas:

• Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering
• Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering
• Information Technology
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Systems Engineering
• AI, Machine Learning and Cybernetics
• Computing or Computer Science
• All applicable technical or related degrees will be considered

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £34,000 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)

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.

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2027. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 6 January 2027, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2027 with details of next steps.

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

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 be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. 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. 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.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

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. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!