Materials Processing Technician Apprentice (Level 3) - Wallwork

Tiro; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading heat treatment provider in Cambridge is offering an apprenticeship for a Materials Processing Technician. As an apprentice, you'll gain hands-on experience and learn about advanced materials processes in a supportive environment. This role offers a starting salary of £10.00 per hour and the potential for permanent employment after completion. The ideal candidate should be detail-oriented, willing to learn, and have an interest in engineering.

Benefits

Annual Leave

Pension scheme

Hands-on training

Qualifications

• Ability to follow technical instructions and procedures.
• Strong organizational skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Interest in engineering and materials processing.

Responsibilities

• Support coating operations and assist in heat treatment activities.
• Learn vacuum brazing processes and carry out equipment checks.
• Participate in maintenance and ensure safety guidelines are followed.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Strong communication skills

Basic IT skills

Education

A-Levels or BTECs in science, engineering, or technology

Job description

Department: Science Apprenticeship - Materials L3

Location: Cambridge

Compensation: £10.00 / hour

Description


Location: Buckingway Business Park, Rowles Way, Swavesey, Cambridge, CB24 4UG

Working for Wallwork Heat Treatment

Wallwork Heat Treatment Cambridge is a key part of Wallwork’s nationwide network, delivering advanced heat treatment, vacuum brazing, and plasma nitriding services to some of the UK’s most high-performance industries. From aerospace to motorsport, our Cambridge facility plays a vital role in ensuring components meet the highest standards of durability, strength, and precision.

We’re proud to support the next generation of engineers and technicians. As a Heat Treatment Technician Apprentice at our Cambridge site, you’ll work alongside experienced professionals in a fast-paced, technical environment. You’ll gain hands-on experience with industry-leading equipment, learn the science behind thermal processes, and take the first steps toward a long-term, meaningful career in materials engineering.

The Package

• Starting salary of £10.00 per hour (increasing to National Minimum/Living Wage after 12 months if applicable)
• 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday
• Annual Leave
• Pension scheme
  
  

What will I be doing as an apprentice?

As a Materials Processing Technician Apprentice at Wallwork, you’ll play a key role in supporting our production teams across coating, heat treatment, and vacuum brazing processes. You’ll help ensure components are treated to the highest standards of performance, durability, and precision for demanding industries such as aerospace, motorsport, medical, and engineering.

This hands-on apprenticeship will give you a strong foundation in advanced materials processing. Working across different departments, you’ll develop practical experience in surface preparation, load building, furnace and chamber operation, data logging, and final inspection. You’ll gain a real-world understanding of thermal and surface treatments and contribute to the smooth running of high-specification production environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support coating operations including secondary contract review, jig and fixture setup, chamber preparation, surface cleaning/blasting, testing, and datalog review.
  
  
• Assist with heat treatment activities including furnace load preparation, part handling, testing, and working from job specifications.
  
  
• Learn vacuum brazing processes such as braze alloy preparation, application of braze material to drawings/specs, and aerospace pre-checks prior to furnace use.
  
  
• Carry out packing and dispatch of treated components to ensure safe delivery and traceability.
  
  
• Follow detailed operating procedures, process specifications, and company work instructions to meet customer and regulatory requirements.
  
  
• Complete daily, weekly, and monthly checks on equipment such as coating chambers, furnaces, and fixtures to maintain reliability and performance.
  
  
• Take part in 5S, housekeeping, and general maintenance activities to support a clean, safe, and efficient work environment.
  
  
• Follow health and safety guidelines and contribute to a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
  

This apprenticeship offers an excellent opportunity to start a rewarding career in advanced materials processing with one of the UK’s leading heat treatment specialists.

What does the future hold?


When you join Wallwork, the possibilities for your success are limitless. As a successful applicant, you have the potential to secure a full-time position within the company at the conclusion of your apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship program also serves as a stepping-stone towards a rewarding career in laboratory testing, with the added opportunity for the apprentice to become a registered Science technician (RSci Tech).

This apprenticeship can also help pave the way for further educational and professional advancement such as our Level 6 Bachelor of Science (BSc) Applied Materials or Applied Chemistry Apprenticeship, enabling you to take on more specialised roles or progress into leadership positions.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

About you

You are a detail-oriented and practical individual with strong communication skills, allowing you to work well within a team and contribute effectively to high-quality production processes. You’re comfortable following technical instructions and procedures, and you take pride in producing accurate, reliable work—whether preparing components, setting up equipment, or reviewing process data.

Your ability to stay organised in a fast-paced environment helps you manage tasks efficiently while maintaining a strong focus on quality and safety. With basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office, you’re confident recording and tracking production data and following digital work instructions.

You have a genuine interest in engineering and materials processing—particularly the science behind heat treatment, coating, and brazing—and you’re eager to understand how these processes support industries like aerospace and motorsport. Your enthusiasm for learning and commitment to high standards make you a great fit for this hands-on apprenticeship opportunity.

Please note: Due to the nature of this role, candidate's must be aged 18+ at the start of their apprenticeship.

Qualifications

At Wallwork, we value curiosity and determination just as much as formal qualifications. While having a foundation in science, engineering, or technology—such as A-Levels or BTECs—is beneficial, it’s your willingness to learn, practical mindset, and commitment to personal development that will help you succeed.

If you’re eager to gain real-world experience in a technical production environment, keen to build your knowledge of materials processes, and ready to take on new challenges—we’d love to hear from you.


Experience

We’re not looking for experts—we’re looking for motivated individuals with a strong work ethic and a genuine interest in technical processes. Whether your experience comes from school projects, a workshop, work placements, or simply a passion for how things are made, we want to support your growth.

If you’re hands-on, reliable, and excited about building a career in materials processing, you’ll thrive in this role.

So how does the apprenticeship work?

At Tiro we’re obsessed with changing lives through science and technology apprenticeships so we can’t wait to have you on board.

Over 21 months, you’ll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week on ‘off the job’ training. This can include theory training (for example, virtual lessons & online learning), alongside practical training (for example shadowing, mentoring, & time spent writing assignments. Together this will count towards a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship. You’ll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at Wallwork who together, will make sure you develop the knowledge, skills, and work habits you’ll need to succeed in your career.Being an apprentice is hands-on, so you’ll get the chance to learn things you might otherwise not have experienced in a university or college environment.

The best part? You’ll be earning a salary while you gain your qualifications, meaning no huge student loans to pay back at the end of the programme!

Eligibility


While we never want to hinder your job application process with obstacles, there are some minimum requirements you’ll need to meet in order to do an apprenticeship, these are rules set by the UK Government.

As a training provider, we are committed to ensuring that our apprenticeship programs deliver significant new knowledge and skills. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that the program will provide learning and experiences beyond their current qualifications and professional expertise.

If you already hold a Level 3, degree or equivalent higher-level qualification in a closely related field, or possess substantial relevant experience, you may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding, as these programmes are designed for individuals who require upskilling or reskilling in their chosen career pathway.

You’ll need to be over 18, not in full time education, have lived in the UK for 3 years and have the right to work in the UK.

If you don’t quite meet these minimum requirements yet, let us know you’re interested here and we’ll get in touch to discuss this further with you.