Manufacturing Engineer – Level 6 Apprenticeship

Prospects; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

AWE Aldermaston offers an onsite apprenticeship to become a Manufacturing Engineer. You’ll learn how ideas, designs and materials become safe, repeatable manufacturing processes, working with design, operations, quality and project teams.

Entry requirements include 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including Maths, English and a science/engineering subject, plus A level grade C or above in a Maths-based subject and a science/engineering or 90+ credits in an Engineering BTEC Level 3.

Qualifications

• GCSEs including Maths, English and a science/engineering-related subject.
• A level C or above in Maths-based subject and a science/engineering or related subject, or 90+ Engineering BTEC Level 3 credits.

Skills

Practical problem-solving

Attention to detail

Curiosity about making things

Teamwork

Education

5 GCSEs incl Maths, English and a science/engineering subject

A level grade C+ in Maths-based subject and a science/engineering subject or 90+ Engineering BTEC Level 3 credits

Job description

Why this role matters

Turn ideas, designs and materials into safe, repeatable manufacturing processes. You’ll learn how products and parts are made safely, accurately and consistently, working with design, operations, quality, safety and project teams.

Entry requirement 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including Maths, English and a science, technology or engineering-related subject. You’ll also need A level grade C or above in a Maths-based subject and a science, technology, engineering or additional Maths-related subject, or 90+ credits in an Engineering BTEC Level 3.

Security clearance

Applicants must be British Nationals and aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027. You must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.

Working pattern

Onsite apprenticeship based at AWE Aldermaston and/or Burghfield, with every other Friday off.

Key dates

Applications close: 20 December 2026 | Assessment centres: 4 and 9 February 2027 | Start date: 1 September 2027

Why being onsite will support your development

This is an onsite apprenticeship. Being onsite means you can learn directly from experienced manufacturing, engineering and quality specialists, see real processes in action and build practical confidence.

The key skills we’re looking for

• - Practical problem-solving: You enjoy finding out why something does or does not work.
• - Attention to detail: You understand that safety, quality and accurate records matter.
• - Curiosity about making things: You are interested in how designs, materials, machines, processes and data come together.
• - Teamwork: You can communicate clearly and work with people across different engineering teams.

Where this apprenticeship could take you

When you successfully complete your apprenticeship, you could move into one of AWE’s engineering teams as a Manufacturing Engineer, with future opportunities in areas such as new product introduction, manufacturing system design, tooling, production support or continuous improvement.

We are AWE. We're a team of remarkable people achieving an extraordinary mission: keeping the nation safe and secure. Our work is critical. We are responsible for delivering the next warhead for the UK's nuclear deterrent; working at the forefront of nuclear technologies that keep the nation safe. AWE’s support for the government’s strategy takes many facets: from supporting the weapon programme for the nuclear deterrent, supporting the UK’s counter terrorist programme, identifying where there may be nuclear tests taking place around the world, and building an expert group of individuals in order to give the UK real depth in nuclear science and technology.