Manufacturing Engineer Apprentice

Keysight Technologies SAles Spain SL.; Paignton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

College day-release

On-site training

Job summary

Keysight offers an exciting apprenticeship in manufacturing at Paignton, lasting about 2.5 years as part of the College day-release program. The role supports engineers to improve production processes, while gaining hands-on experience with CAD, ERP systems and measurement instruments.

Salary is £19,500 per year, with on-site, full-time duties and college partnerships with South Devon College. A strong interest in engineering and a proactive learner mindset are essential for success.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths Level 4+ required.
• Interest in engineering and manufacturing.
• No prior industry experience required; Level 3 engineering is desirable.
• Good communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Support design, implementation and optimisation of manufacturing processes under guidance of senior engineers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the production floor.
• Work with cross-functional teams to resolve production issues; create/update SOPs and work instructions.
• Support time studies and workflow analysis to identify efficiency improvements.
• Help implement health & safety best practices in manufacturing.
• Help collect and analyse production data to support engineering decisions.
• Learn CAD software, ERP systems and measurement instruments.

Skills

English GCSE/Maths GCSE

Interest in engineering

Team player

Willingness to learn

Education

Level 3 qualification in engineering

Tools

CAD software

ERP systems

Measurement instruments

Job description

Keysight is at the forefront of technology innovation, delivering breakthroughs and trusted insights in electronic design, simulation, prototyping, test, manufacturing, and optimization. Our ~16,800 employees create world-class solutions in communications, 5G, automotive, energy, quantum, aerospace, defense, and semiconductor markets for customers in over 100 countries. Learn more about what we do.

Our award-winning culture embraces a bold vision of where technology can take us and a passion for tackling challenging problems with industry-first solutions. We believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they can be more creative, innovative, and thrive at all points in their careers.

Spirent, a Keysight company, is a global leader in satellite navigation test and simulation systems within the Positioning Technologies business unit. Our advanced RF signal generators and simulation software - designed entirely in-house - are the industry benchmark, used in every major navigation and communications test for devices on land, at sea, in the air and in space over the last six years.

This is an exciting opportunity to kick-start a career in engineering through a hands-on apprenticeship in a real manufacturing environment. You will support experienced engineers to improve production processes, maintain quality standards, and contribute to innovation in manufacturing methods - combining classroom learning with structured on-the-job training in testing, diagnostics and quality assurance.

• Location: Paignton (on-site)
• Contract: Full-time, temporary - for the duration of the course (approx. 2.5 years)
• Salary: £19,500 per annum
• Training: South Devon College - Manufacturing Technician Higher Apprenticeship
• Pattern: College day-release (typically one day/week); on-site remaining days; full-time on-site during college holidays
• Hours: Mon-Thu 8.25 hrs, Fri 4.5 hrs (30 min lunch)

Responsibilities

• Support the design, implementation and optimisation of manufacturing processes, under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the production floor.
• Work with cross-functional teams to help resolve production issues. Assist in creating and updating standard operating procedures and work instructions.
• Support time studies and workflow analysis to identify efficiency improvements.
• Assist in implementing health & safety best practices in manufacturing.
• Help collect and analyse production data to support engineering decisions.
• Learn and gain hands-on experience with CAD software, ERP systems and measurement instruments.

You’ll also learn the real-world application of engineering principles in manufacturing, how to use data to drive process improvements, exposure to modern manufacturing technologies, and teamwork/communication in a technical environment.

Qualifications

• English and Maths (GCSE or equivalent) at Level 4 or above.
• A genuine interest in engineering and manufacturing.
• No prior industry experience required. A Level 3 qualification in engineering (or a related subject) is desirable but not essential - relevant industry experience is also welcomed.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills; willingness to learn and take initiative; enthusiastic, reliable, and a strong team player.

Careers Privacy Statement ***Keysight is an Equal Opportunity Employer.***